Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in Anambra State has reported a multiple road traffic crash involving seven vehicles on Monday 11 May, 2020 at Obosi-Nkpor road
near Elohim Oil Project Nig. Ltd.
The vehicles involved included, Mack (Tanker) conveying cooking gas, with registration number AKD246XV, Mitsubishi Diana with registration number GDD259ZE, Toyota Pickup registration number NEN402ZD, Mercedes Benz Truck with no visible registration number, belonging to Rico Pharmacy Industries Ltd, Tricycle without registration number, Toyota Camry without registration number and Scania Truck also without registration number.
According to eyewitnesses, the crash which occurred at about 11.51am was caused by brake failure.
They explained that the brakes of the Mercedes Benz Truck failed while descending the hill towards Nkpor.
Nine people were involved in the crash (8 male adults and 1 female adult).
Four male adults sustained varying degrees of injury and the only female victim was confirmed dead by doctors at Boromeo Hospital, Onitsha, where the injured victims were also rushed to by FRSC rescue team from Upper Iweka Outpost, said RC Pascal A. Anigbo, Sector Public Education Officer of the Corps.
Meanwhile traffic control and clearing of obstruction by the FRSC heavy duty tow truck was ongoing at the time of this report while the Fire Service are also on ground to avert any fire outbreak.
Anigbo, also said that about the same time, another Road Traffic Crash involving a TATA truck with registration number LND635XM was reported to have occurred at Umuoji Roundabout.
The brakes of the truck which was conveying empty bottles/crates of Hero beer failed and in an attempt to prevent the vehicle from ramming into other vehicles in traffic, the driver tried maneuvering but the truck fell discharging the empty bottles on the road. There was no casualty and the vehicle has been pulled up by a private tow truck.
The Sector Commander Federal Road Safety Corps Anambra, CC Andrew A. Kumapayi condoled with the family of the dead and wished the injured victims quick recovery.
He admonished vehicle owners and drivers to always ensure that their vehicles are properly serviced, especially the brakes, before embarking on any trip. He also reminds motorists that the rainy season is here, where the grounds are mostly slippery. Vehicles must have good tyres and good brakes to prevent avoidable Road Traffic Crashes.