One person has been confirmed dead and 12 others injured in a multiple road accident at the Umunya Odumodu Junction along Nteje-Awka Expressway, in the Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Our correspondent gathered that two heavy-duty trucks, one Sienna commercial bus, one black Toyota car and another unidentified commercial vehicle were involved in the accident, which occurred on Saturday around 12:40pm.
The commercial vehicles were said to be coming from Onitsha and heading for Enugu when the accident occurred.
A tricycle operator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that eight people were killed.
He said, “I was waiting for passengers when I suddenly saw a trailer coming from Onitsha at top speed. Immediately it got closer to the Odumodu Junction, its driver lost control as he couldn’t control the brakes anymore. He rammed into an incoming trailer, which was 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 Public Education Officer of the Anambra State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Margaret Onabe, however, confirmed that one person was killed.
Onabe, in a statement, added that five unidentified drivers were involved in the crash, adding that the probable cause of the accident was speeding.
She said, “The driver of the truck, with number plate, LSD 339 XA, lost control as a result of speeding, thereby causing multiple collisions with four other vehicles.
“About 26 persons, comprising 20 male adults and six female adults, were involved in the crash. The injured victims were 12, comprising nine male adults 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 the Anambra Sector Command, Awka, rushed the victims to Boromi and Divine Favour Hospital, Umunya. The dead victim is still trapped under the truck as of the time of this report.”
