Six persons including three female children of the same parents, lost their lives in a tragic accident at the Area Command Bus Stop in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The devastating incident occurred on Friday night, when a cement-laden truck lost control and crashed into a nearby residential building.
Eyewitnesses indicate that a brake failure on the truck led to the driver losing control, resulting in a chain reaction of collisions with surrounding buildings before finally crashing into a house adjacent to the main road.
“The incident happened late on Friday when most people were at their compound,” the witness narrated.
“The loud noise from the crash alerted the residents and other passers-by to the scene. It subsequently created a rowdy scene as residents and passers-by tried to remove some victims who got stuck.
“The driver of the trailer carrying cement lost control at Ugwu-Akpati Ozu, Nnewi and crashed at Me Court Junction, near Nnewi Police Area Command Bus Stop.
“The truck cleared several structures and some persons before ramming into the residential building, k!lling about five children of a family.
“It was an unfortunate incident that occurred while some people gathered at their various compounds celebrating Valentine’s Day. The driver was also k!lled in the accident while several victims were still stuck under the truck.”
The grieving mother of the children who lost their lives in the accident was overcome with emotion, as residents attempted to console her, while the lifeless bodies lay at the scene of the devastating crash.
Confirming the incident on Saturday, spokesperson for the Anambra State Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Command, Margaret Onabe, said the crash occurred late on Friday.
Onabe attributed the causes of the fatal accident to excessive speed, brake failure and loss of control.
Onabe said six male and female adults and three female children were victims of the crash, adding that the children and the female adult lost their lives, while the rest sustained injuries.
“Among the deceased victims, one male adult and one female adult were trapped inside a building. The FRSC rescue team from Nnewi conducted an extrication, and the bodies of the deceased were transferred to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Akammili Umudim, Nnewi.”
The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, also confirmed the incident.
“Preliminary information shows that the fatal accident was caused by brake failure. Regrettably, six persons lost their lives, while two others sustained serious injuries.”
