From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
A family of six was, on Sunday, wiped out in a ghastly motor accident, at Nekede, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.
A witness said the incident actually occurred at Maternity Junction, very close to the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri.
The source narrated that the family were riding on two motorcycles convoy, when an SUV vehicle veered off his track and rammed into them.
The head of the family, who was simply identified as Arthur, his wife and 14-month-old child were said to have died on the spot, while his house girl and two sons died later in a hospital in Owerri.
The source, who identified himself as Mekoyor, said a neighbour to the victim’s family said the breadwinner, known simply as Arthur, a disabled athlete, was billed to represent Nigeria at a Disabled Badminton competition in the United States of America, on August 14, before his sudden death.
He said: “Arthur, as I fondly call the victim, was living in the same house with me at Wetheral Road till last Sunday, when he perished with his family. He has only one hand and was about to represent the country on disabled badminton competition in the USA, on August 14, 2023. He runs a restaurant at the polytechnic school junction.
Further narrating how the incident happened, Mekoyor said: “Come to think of it, the young guy who killed Arthur, popularly known as One arm General, is not even the owner of the RX 330.
“The vehicle was handed over to him by the owner to rush and withdraw money they will use and pay the woman they were buying drinks from at Holy Family junction, Poly Nekede. He then zoomed off to the ATM that is inside Master’s Energy fuel station, Aba road Owerri. On his way back with heavy speed, he lost control of the steering at Maternity junction, Poly Nekede, and ended up knocking down a pedestrian and the entire family of Arthur face-to-face.
“Arthur and his family were on their way to town at 11:05pm, whereas the suspect was heading to Polynek.
He left his right lane and rammed into Arthur and family. Arthur was carrying his wife and his last born (daughter) of one year and two months on his red Windy Machine, while another bike was carrying his maid and two boys of about seven and five years. He died on the spot with his child, while the wife, the bike man, and the second child died at FMC Owerri.”
Although, Daily Sun gathered that another man, who was riding on another motorbike with his wife, was also knocked down by the vehicle, but it could not be ascertained the level of their involvement in the accident at the time of this report.
Confirming the incident, the state police spokesman, Henry Okoye, said the matter was under investigation.
He said: “The Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde, is using this opportunity to advise motorists to always obey traffic rules. The victims have been evacuated while we intensify the investigation.”
Also, another colleague of the victim, who confirmed the incident, said: “Yes, I know him, he plays badminton here in the stadium. It’s quite unfortunate.”