About eight individuals are believed to have lost their lives, while 12 others sustained injuries, in a multiple road collision that took place at the Umunya Odumodu Junction along the Nteje-Awka Expressway, situated in the Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
According to reports, the accident transpired at around 12:40 pm on Saturday and involved two large trucks, a Sienna commercial bus, a black Toyota car, and an unidentified commercial vehicle.
The commercial vehicles were reportedly traveling from Onitsha to Enugu at the time of the incident. An eyewitness near the crash attributed the cause of the accident to excessive speeding and reckless behavior exhibited by one of the drivers operating 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 incoming trailer in between a bus loaded with passengers.
“About eight dead victims have so far removed from the commercial vehicles while one person is still trapped.”
Margaret B Onabe, the acting Sector Public Education Officer of the Anambra State command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, has verified the occurrence of the incident through a statement.
Onabe further stated that five drivers, whose identities remain unknown, were implicated in the tragic collision, and it is suspected that the primary reason for the fatal crash was excessive speeding.
However, she clarified that only one individual lost their life in the accident, while the remaining 12 individuals who sustained injuries of varying severity have been promptly transported to the hospital for medical attention.
She said, “The driver of the truck with registration number LSD 339 XA lost control as a result of speed, thereby causing multiple collisions of four other vehicles.
“About 26 persons comprising 20 male adults, and six female adults were involved in the crash. 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 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 is still on the ground controlling traffic and ensuring obstruction caused by the crash is 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 wishes the injured victim a 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.
