Tragedy struck on the Agulu-Awgbu Road in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, as six people lost their lives in a devastating multi-vehicle collision near the Green Energy Oil and Gas Station in Eke Awgbu.
It was reported that the devastating road accident occurred at approximately 10 am on Tuesday, involving three vehicles, including a motorcycle.
Witnesses at the scene of the accident informed our reporter that a total of eleven people were involved in the crash, including nine men and two women. Unfortunately, four men and two women lost their lives, while five men and one woman survived with various injuries.
According to an eyewitness who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media, the driver of the truck, who was at speed, had a brake failure, lost control of the vehicle, and collided with the other vehicles at a checkpoint and crashed.
Some other eyewitnesses also blamed the crash on the checkpoint mounted by security operatives and agents of the state revenue service on the ever-busy road.
One of the eyewitnesses who craved anonymity, said, “Some revenue agents and the security operatives stopped some vehicles and were demanding money; before we knew what was happening, a truck failed its brake and rammed into the waiting vehicles at the checkpoint.”
The acting Sector Public Education Officer for the Federal Road Safety Corps, Anambra State Command, Margaret Onabe, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.
Onabe said before the FRSC rescue team arrived at the scene, passers-by had rushed the injured victims to the Referral Health Centre, Awgbu, while the dead victims were deposited at the St Joseph’s Mortuary in Adazi Ani.
She said, “A fatal road traffic crash was recorded today at the Green Energy Oil and Gas by Eke Awgbu along the Agulu-Awgbu Road. It was a multiple crash.
“The crash involved a commercial Howo truck belonging to BUA Cement with no registration number, a commercial TVS/Tricycle with registration number: NZH84LG, a commercial QLINK motorcycle with registration number: OLU245QV and a private Honda motorcycle with no registration number.
“The probable cause of the fatal road traffic crash was excessive speed and brake failure.
“According to an eyewitness, the driver of the truck was at speed, had a brake failure, lost control of the vehicle, and collided with the other vehicles at a checkpoint and crashed.
“Eleven persons were involved in the crash comprising (nine male adults, and two female adults) five male adults and two female adults sustained varying degrees of injury, and four male adults and one female adult were killed.
“Before the arrival of the FRSC rescue team from RS5.35 Igboukwu, the injured victims were rushed by passersby to the Referral Health Centre Awgbu and the dead victims were deposited at the St Joseph’s Mortuary Adazi Ani.”
According to her, the rescue team managed the traffic and ensured the obstruction caused by the crash was cleared.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the rescue team from the RS 5.3 Anambra State Sector Command, led by E. Oguadimma, immediately visited the scene of the crash and also visited Referral Hospital, Awgbu, where the victims were taken.
There, it was confirmed that two among the seven injured victims were referred to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Awka and another two were referred to the Regina Hospital Awka, of which an adult female was confirmed dead on arrival of the team.
Meanwhile, an adult male was also confirmed dead at Referral Hospital Awgbu, bringing the total number of deaths to six, which include four male adults, and two female adults.
She added that the FRSC Sector Commander Anambra State, Corps Commander Adeoye Irelewuyi, condole with the families of the dead victims, and sent his prayers to the injured persons.
“He urged motorists to maintain a safe speed and drive within the speculated speed limit to arrive at their destination alive. Kill the speed now before it kills you,” she added.
The Anambra State Internal Revenue Service has issued a statement refuting allegations that their personnel were involved in the fatal road accident.
