Breaking News: Tragedy In Onitsha as Pregnant Woman, 7 Others Die In Auto Crash, 15 Injured

It was horrific yesterday  in Onitsha Anambra state as seven persons, including a pregnant woman died in an auto crash reports www.odogwublog.com.

No fewer than 15 others sustained various degrees of injuries.

The accident occurred sequel to an alleged brake failure when a 40-foot fuel tanker was descending the Awka road rammed into vehicles that queued up waiting for their turn to pass at the ABS/Awka road traffic light Junction.

The driver allegedly strived to gain control of the trailer but to no avail as the tanker first crushed a blue Mitsubishi bus with full load of passengers before ramming four Tricycles at a stretch resulting in the casualties.

An witness told newsmen that , “the pregnant woman was standing at the bus-stop waiting for a commuter bus when she was crushed by the tanker”.

“Others were mostly passengers in the four Tricycles that were hit in the multiple accident”, he stated.
The Onitsha police Area Commander, Mr. Philip Ezekiel, the Inland Town Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr. Cosmas Eze , Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Okpoko Police Division, Mr. Emeka Ugwu, and the Onitsha Central Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr. Isa Abubakar were all present battling to save lives as well as the officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

As well, the officials of fire service were handy with their vehicles laden with water in case of sudden fire outbreak but it never occurred.

Confirming the incident, the DPO incharge of Onitsha Inland Town, Mr. Eze said, "only the pregnant woman was killed, others were injured and sent to both Borromeo and Onitsha General Hospitals”.

"Well I will soon go round when we must have cleared the road to ascertain if those who sustained severe injuries later gave up the ghost”, he stated.

On the where about of the driver and conductor he said, “they are in our custody and the driver said he lost control of the vehicle”, the DPO hinted.

As at the time of filing this report the ever-busy Awka Road was blocked from Mba road Junction to Okosi road Junction to enable the evacuation of the ill-fated tanker and other crushed vehicles.

pICTURE :The Crushed Tricycles, the bus and the Tanker