By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Yet-to-be-confirmed number of travellers are feared dead in Anambra State, following a fatal road accident that threw many into mourning and caused serious traffic gridlock in the affected area on Thursday evening.
This is coming barely three weeks after another fatal multiple crash hit the popular Idemili Obosi, involving a Mack Trailer and some commercial vehicles.
The Thursday tragic crash, which occurred along the Okija Junction axis of the Onitsha–Owerri Expressway in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state, reportedly happened when a commercial bus lost control and rammed into the bridge rails before coming to a halt precariously on top of the structure.
Although the exact details of the crash are yet to be ascertained, eyewitness accounts revealed that the bus — a fully loaded Toyota Hiace — was travelling at high speed when the driver suddenly appeared to lose control, possibly due to a burst tyre or brake failure. The vehicle, according to witnesses, swerved dangerously before colliding with the side of the bridge, reportedly killing some occupants on the spot and injuring several others.
It was further reported that the impact of the crash was so severe that some passengers were flung out of the vehicle, while others remained trapped inside the mangled bus, even as some good Samaritans and passersby quickly rushed to the scene in an attempt to help or rescue survivors.
This was corroborated by a trending video from the scene of the crash, showing the wrecked vehicle still lodged on top of the bridge, with some personal belongings of the passengers scattered across the road. The video also captured emotional scenes of pedestrians, motorists, and a few surviving passengers wailing and lamenting the tragedy.
As at the time of this publication, efforts by this reporter, Izunna Okafor, to confirm the incident and obtain official details and reactions from the Anambra State Command’s Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), RC Margaret Onabe, proved abortive, as she neither answered her phone calls nor responded to the message and video of the accident scene sent to her.
However, reports from other sources quoted RC Onabe as confirming the occurrence of the crash but explaining that she was awaiting approval from her Boss, the Sector Commander, before releasing an official press statement on the incident.
“Yes, there was a fatal accident yesterday. I have written a report on that but awaiting my Boss’s approval,” she was quoted as saying.
Watch the video from the accident scene below:
