About eight persons are feared dead and 12 others injured in a multiple road accident at the Umunya Odumodu Junction, along Nteje-Awka Expressway, in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Two heavy-duty trucks, one Sienna commercial bus, one black Toyota car, and another unidentified commercial vehicle, it was gathered, were involved in the accident which occurred on Saturday at about 12:40 pm.
The commercial vehicles were said to be coming from Onitsha and heading to Enugu when the accident occurred.
The victims were said to be mostly from the commercial vehicles.
An eyewitness near the crash attributed the cause to overspeeding and recklessness by one of the drivers of the heavy-duty trucks.
The witness, a tricycle operator said, “I was waiting for passengers when I suddenly saw a trailer coming from Onitsha with a high speed, immediately he got closer to the Odumodu Junction, he lost control of the vehicle as he couldn’t control the break anymore, thereby ramming into an oncoming trailer in between a bus loaded with passengers.
“About eight dead victims have so far been removed from the commercial vehicles while one person is still trapped.”
The Acting Sector Public Education Officer of the Anambra State Command of Federal Road Safety Corps, Margaret B Onabe, confirmed the incident in a statement.
Onabe added that five unidentified drivers were involved in the fatal crash, adding that the probable cause of the fatal crash was overspeeding.
She, however, said that only one person died in the crash, while 12 others who sustained varying degrees of injuries have been rushed to the hospital.
She said, “The driver of the truck with registration number LSD 339 XA lost control as a result of speeding, thereby causing multiple collisions of four other vehicles.
“About 26 persons comprising 20 male and six female adults were involved in the crash. Injured victims were 12 comprising nine male and three female adults. One male adult was killed while 13 persons were rescued unhurt.
“The FRSC rescue team from RS5.33 Nteje in collaboration with a team of Officers and men from Anambra Sector Command, Awka rushed the victim to Boromi and Divine Favour Hospital, Umunya. The dead victim is still trapped under the truck as of the time of this report.”
She added that the rescue team was still on the ground controlling traffic and ensuring obstruction caused by the crash was cleared.
She pointed out that the Sector Commander, Corps Commander Adeoye Irelewuyi, and the Head of Operations, DCC Okora Awassam had visited the crash scene.
“Efforts are being made to remove the trapped body. The fire service team has been contacted and is on the ground to prevent any fire outbreak.
“The Sector Commander, Anambra State sympathised with the family of the dead victim and wished the injured victim quick recovery.
“He seriously warned motorists to desist from speeding and ensure they drive within minimum safe speed to save their lives and that of other road users. Drive to save your life and the lives of others on the road,” she said.
