A truck packed with cement destroyed two commercial buses in Upper Iweka in Onitsha, Anambra State, killing several people and injuring many more.
According to reports, the truck lost control on Wednesday, May 3, in the ever-busy and accident-prone location of Asaba Park, and smashed two commercial cars transporting passengers along the freeway.
Eyewitnesses stated that the casualties could not be determined at the time of reporting this story, but that many people died and that many others were flown to Toronto hospitals for treatment.
“We saw the truck coming with speed and suspected that it might have lost control and ran for our dear lives before we knew what was happening, it crushed two passenger buses loading along the road killing some people and injuring others,” the witness narrated.
“That spot has been an accident prone area where many accidents had happened in the past claiming many lives. It is based on the frequent accidents at the spot that made the state government to put up signs of ‘don’t load, no bus stop.”
However, some commercial drivers consistently disregarded the instructions and signs of the state government and loaded passengers to Asaba and Bridgehead.
“I want the government to ensure strict monitoring and patrolling of the area by its Taskforce to arrest defaulting drivers and impound their vehicles to stop further loading at the place and to safeguard the lives of the passengers and passersby,” the witness stated.
Tochukwu Ikenga, a spokesperson for the State Police Command, acknowledged the accident but stated that police were still gathering information on the accident and the number of casualties.
He advised commercial bus drivers to load at designated parks and bus stops, and truck drivers to avoid overspeeding and to conduct regular checks and maintenance on their vehicles to reduce road accidents.
