In a devastating incident that occurred in the early hours of Friday, a fatal accident at Odumodu Junction in Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area, along Awka road, Anambra State, claimed the lives of five women, leaving two men and two women with various degrees of injuries.
The accident, which sent shockwaves through the local community, involved a Mitsubishi L300 bus with registration number XE245AWK and a commercial Daf/Leyland truck with number plate T-19094LA. The identities of the drivers of the vehicles remain unknown at this time. The tragic event unfolded at approximately 7:30 am on Friday, and preliminary investigations suggest that a failed portion of the road may have played a pivotal role in the disaster.
According to an eyewitness who spoke to reporters, “One of the vehicles was heading towards Awka, while the other was en route to Onitsha. Unfortunately, they both reached the deteriorated road section simultaneously. Due to the weight of the truck, it toppled over and crushed the bus, resulting in the tragic loss of life for some passengers. Quick-thinking individuals in the vicinity, along with the assistance of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), managed to rescue some of the occupants. Ten individuals were involved in the crash, comprising three adult males and seven adult females. Regrettably, five of the female passengers lost their lives, while two men and two women sustained injuries. Remarkably, one man emerged from the wreckage unscathed.”
The swift response and efforts of the FRSC rescue team from Nteje were instrumental in saving lives. They promptly extricated the injured victims from the wreckage and rushed them to Divine Care Hospital in Umunya for urgent medical attention. Tragically, the bodies of the deceased were confirmed dead by doctors at Chira Hospital and subsequently transported to New Jerusalem Mortuary in Nteje.
When reached for comment, RC Margaret B. Onabe, the Acting Sector Public Education Officer for Anambra State, issued a statement confirming the tragic incident. She reported that Sector Commander Anambra State Corps, Mr. Irelewuyi, in collaboration with the Unit Commander in Nteje, were actively working to clear the road obstruction caused by the accident at the time of the report. Due to these ongoing efforts, Mr. Irelewuyi was unable to provide further details to the press regarding the accident.
This heart-wrenching accident serves as a grim reminder of the pressing need for infrastructure improvements and road safety measures in the region. The entire community is left in mourning as they come to terms with the tragic loss of life and the injuries sustained in this terrible incident.
