By Our Reporter
Six persons narrowly escaped death on Saturday when a trailer carrying a 40-foot container fell off the New Parts, Nkpor Bridge along the Onitsha–Awka Expressway in Anambra State, crashing unto three other vehicles.
The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC confirmed the accident, which occurred at the busy New Motor Parts Market axis of the expressway.
Two persons had minor injuries in the accident. while four others escaped unhurt, the FRSC added
Eyewitnesses said the articulated vehicle was travelling from the Awka end of the expressway towards Onitsha when it reportedly suffered brake failure while descending the bridge.
The driver was said to have made frantic efforts to regain control before the truck veered off the bridge and landed on vehicles beneath.
The crash involved four vehicles, including the trailer, two commercial shuttle buses and an Audi Volkswagen car, all of which sustained varying degrees of damage.
An eyewitness said the incident could have resulted in multiple fatalities but for the swift reaction of passengers and motorists around the scene.
“The driver suddenly lost control while descending the bridge. The trailer veered off and crashed onto vehicles below.
“Fortunately, some passengers who were inside one of the shuttle buses managed to flee before the trailer landed on it,” the witness said.
The accident caused a heavy along the expressway, with the fallen trailer obstructing movement for several hours and causing tension among road users and traders in the area.
The Sector Public Education Officer of the FRSC Anambra State Command, SRC Margaret Onabe, said the crash occurred at about 1 p.m. on Saturday and involved a Mercedes-Benz articulated truck with registration number FTD581XA, two commercial shuttle buses with registration numbers ENU540ZJ and BKL661XA, and an Audi Volkswagen car with registration number ENU528MK.
According to her, the FRSC received a distress call at about 1:10 p.m., while a rescue team from the RS5.31A Upper Iweka Outpost arrived at the scene within five minutes.
“A total of six male adults were involved in the crash. Two sustained minor injuries, while four persons escaped unhurt. No fatalities were recorded,” Onabe stated.
She said preliminary investigations pointed to brake failure as the likely cause of the accident.
The FRSC spokesperson disclosed that the injured victims had been taken to a nearby hospital before rescue officials arrived at the scene.
To ease traffic congestion and prevent secondary crashes, the FRSC deployed a heavy-duty tow truck to remove the damaged vehicles and clear the obstruction.
The Sector Commander, Corps Commander Bridget Asekhauno, wished the injured victims a speedy recovery and urged motorists, particularly operators of articulated trucks and commercial vehicles, to ensure regular maintenance of their vehicles, especially braking systems, before embarking on journeys.
She reaffirmed the FRSC’s commitment to road safety and prompt emergency response across the state.
As of the time of filing this report, the wrecked trailer had been removed from the road, normalcy restored and vehicular movement resumed along the busy expressway.
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