5 crushed to death in multiple accidents in Anambra market

From Emmanuel Uzor, Awka

No fewer than five people were crushed to death as a trailer carrying bags of cement rammed into vehicles and tricycle conveying traders at the Eke Awgbu market in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The incident, which happened in the early hours of yesterday, left many people dead with some of the victims’ bodies dismembered, while many others sustained life threatening injuries.

It was, however, gathered that the accident involving a Howo truck belonging to BUA group occurred when the driver was allegedly trying to escape from some members of the task force team over revenue.

Though the Anambra State Government, through the state internal revenue service, denied complexity in the accident, a witness said stick wielding men were run after the ill-fated truck, which led it to skid off the road and ram into the densely populated market.

“This time round, the murderous band of Monday hammer wielding thugs have descended on a trailer carrying bags of cement and, in the process of pursuing it, the trailer lost control of its brakes and set off a blood chilling carnage, leading to loss of the lives of innocent bystanders,” a witness said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Command, said the fatal road traffic crash occurred at Green Energy Oil and gas station by Eke Awgbu, along Agulu-Agwubu Road. The FRSC Acting Sector Public Education Officer, Margaret Onabe, said a commercial Howo truck belonging to BUA group also crushed a commercial TVS tricycle with registration number: NZH84LG and a commercial Qlink motorcycle with registration number: OLU245QV, a private Honda motorcycle with no registration number.

He said the probable cause of the fatal road traffic crash was excessive speed/brake failure. A witness said the driver of the truck was on speed, had a brake failure, lost control of the vehicle, and collided with the other vehicles at a checkpoint and crashed.

“Eleven people were involved in the crash, comprising nine male adults and two female adults; five male adults and one female adult sustained varying degrees of injury and four male adults and one female adult were killed.

Before the arrival of the FRSC rescue team from RS5.35 Igboukwu, the injured victims were rushed by passersby to the Referral Health Centre, Awgbu, and the dead victims deposited at St Joseph’s Mortuary, Adazi Ani,” the witness said.