Two persons, a mother and child, have died on the spot, and others were hospitalised after a trailer lost control and rammed into a commercial vehicle at the Ulasi River Bridge, Okija Junction in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
City Round gathered that the crash occurred late on Thursday when the driver of the trailer experienced brake failure and crashed into the Toyota Hiace bus on the bridge, resulting in multiple fatalities.
Some eyewitnesses and residents near the scene said the vehicle, which was coming from Upper Iweka area and travelling to Owerri, was stopped by some touts allegedly collecting revenue when the trailer’s brakes failed and hit the vehicle behind.
video of the accident, which circulated on social media, showed the damaged vehicle on the road with passers-by and other pedestrians making frantic efforts to rescue the accident victims.
Two persons, identified as a mother and her child, died instantly while several others sustained injuries after a trailer lost control and rammed into a commercial bus at the Ulasi River Bridge, Okija Junction in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. The accident, which occurred late Thursday, was reportedly caused by brake failure, leading the trailer to crash into a Toyota Hiace bus on the bridge, resulting in multiple casualties.
An eyewitness near the scene, who gave his name as Ibeabuchi Edeoga, told City Round that the accident involved a Toyota Hiace and a trailer truck.
He said, “The accident was caused by touts who blocked the road and were collecting revenue from commercial drivers. But unfortunately, a trailer truck that was on speed failed to brake and ran over the bus, killing two people, a woman and her child instantly.
Many passengers involved in the accident were rushed to a nearby hospital. But all of the victims were unconscious when they were taken to the hospital. But as of this morning, some victims have died.”
Another eyewitness, Uchenna Odinaka, said, “I was heading home when the incident happened. It could have been more disastrous, but the railings by the bridge stopped the truck from going further to hitting other vehicles and road users.
“It happened during the rush hours when everyone was trying to get home. The trailer driver and the motor boy were rescued. Two people died on the spot, The bodies of the victims lay on the ground before the rescue operations from pedestrians and the arrival of security operatives,” he said. while several others who were unconscious were rushed to a nearby hospital.”
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps in Anambra State, Margaret Onabe, stated, “Yes, we received the report of the accident, but we are still investigating the cause of the crash and will issue a statement with information soon.”
When contacted on the development on Friday, the spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps, Anambra sector, Margaret Onabe, confirmed the incident, but could not, however, give the actual casualty figure.
“Yes, we received the report of the accident, but we are still investigating the cause of the crash and will issue a statement with information soon.”
