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From Kenneth Udeh , Abuja
A fatal road accident occurred early Wednesday morning along the Bwari–Dutse Expressway, leaving one person dead and several others injured.
The incident took place around 6:45 a.m. at the Tipper Garage Bus Stop, a known accident-prone junction in the area.
According to eyewitness accounts, an articulated trailer with registration number KANO KMC 410 ZR, conveying goods from the Ushafa Expressway, lost its brakes while descending the sloping section of the road.
Despite desperate efforts by the driver to regain control, the trailer, moving at high speed, rammed into several vehicles waiting for the traffic light at the junction.
The impact was devastating. The trailer ploughed into multiple vehicles, including a Honda CRV SUV (ABUJA KWL 540 BM) and a Volkswagen Golf (OSUN EDE 804 AE), causing extensive damage and injuring their occupants.
Tragically, a private motorcycle rider caught in the traffic was dragged underneath the trailer. Witnesses described the scene as horrific, saying the victim’s body was mangled beyond recognition as it was dragged along the road.
After the collision, the trailer driver reportedly attempted to flee the scene out of fear of mob action.
However, quick intervention by soldiers in a patrol van who narrowly escaped being hit themselves led to his arrest. The soldiers intercepted the truck, forced it to a stop, and handed the driver over to the police.
Moments later, officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Police, and the Nigerian Army arrived at the scene to restore order and control the ensuing traffic gridlock.
The mangled remains of the motorcyclist were gathered by the roadside as emergency responders worked to clear the debris. As of the time of filing this report, the body was still at the scene, awaiting evacuation.
The SUN correspondent who visited the crash site observed the severely damaged vehicles, the wreckage of the power bike, and streaks of blood along the asphalt, evidence of the gruesome nature of the incident.
Several victims with varying degrees of injuries were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Residents and eyewitnesses who spoke to reporters lamented that this was not the first accident at the Tipper Garage junction.
They attributed the recurring incidents to the steep descent from the Ushafa axis, describing it as a death trap for heavy-duty vehicles.
They recalled that a similar accident at the same spot last year claimed about 14 lives, prompting authorities to install traffic lights at the junction. However, they said the measure has done little to curb the menace.
The residents appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to urgently intervene by constructing speed bumps, redesigning the slope, and creating an alternative lane for articulated vehicles.
An FRSC official, who requested anonymity, expressed deep regret over the loss of life and warned drivers to always conduct routine checks on their vehicles before hitting the road.
He further cautioned against excessive speeding, especially on hilly routes.
