Crashes: Tears As Anambra Records Six Deaths In Three Days

In what will come across as a really startling development, as many as six deaths were recorded in four separate crashes within three days in Anambra State, The Nation reports.

The crashes, surprisingly, came on the heels of “Operations show your drivers license” recently carried out by Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the State.

While three crashes occurred along Awka-Onitsha expressway, the other one happened at Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area of the State.

The week started with a fatal crash on Sunday in Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area of the State where a driver was reportedly trapped to death, with four others injured along Onitsha-Nteje-Awka expressway.

The crash which involved an articulated truck and a Honda CRV with five passengers on board, occurred when the truck coming from opposite direction, lost control and rammed into the Honda, leaving the driver attempting to negotiate the junction, dead.

Confirming the incident, Sector Commander, FRSC, Adeoye Irelewuyi attributed cause of crash to speed and loss of control.

He sympathized with deceased family and prayed for the injured, just as he warned motorist to desist from excessive speed and ensure their vehicles were road worthy before embarking on any journey.

On Tuesday, another crash claimed two lives, while four others sustained varying degrees of injury in Nibo.

The crash which occurred around 3:30 pm along Oye-Nibo road, involved Mercedes Benz ML 350 Jeep with Reg Nos. AE 712 ABM and an unmarked tricycle.

Lamenting over the incident, a resident of the area said, “Too many road crashes these days. I heard it happened at Nibo yesterday.

“I don’t have the details but I heard that a Mini Jeep ran into a Keke carrying five passengers riding towards Amawbia.

“I heard the six persons in the Keke all died, and the man driving the Jeep together with a woman carrying a child all died, as the Jeep, after hitting the Keke, crashed into the gutter.”

But Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga in a statement, said only two persons died in the accident, adding that investigations into the crash have commenced.

He said, “Anambra Police Operatives have recovered a Mercedes Benz ML 350 Jeep with Reg Nos. AE 712 ABM and an unmarked tricycle involved in a fatal accident that occurred on 17/4/2023 by 3:30 pm along Oye-Nibo road, Awka South.

“The Operatives responding to the distress call, found two lifeless unidentified male bodies on the road while four others who were seriously wounded were rushed to hospital for medical attention. The two bodies were recovered and deposited in the morgue.

“Meanwhile, investigations into the unfortunate incident are still ongoing and further details shall be communicated.”

Same Tuesday, two women involved in another ghastly accident at the popular Odumodu junction, along Onitsha-Nteje-Awka expressway were confirmed dead by the doctor in a nearby hospital they were rushed to.

Six other passengers sustained serious injury in the lone crash that occurred around 6.50pm, involving a commercial Toyota Sienna with Registration Number: LND502YE with six persons on board.

The speeding Sienna driver was said to have suddenly lost control of the vehicle and somersaulted, after hitting a woman crossing the highway.

Sector Commander, FRSC, Adeoye Irelewuyi who also confirmed the incident, attributed the cause of the crash to speed.

While commiserating with the deceased family and praying for quick recovery of the injured, Irelewuyi urged motorist to maintain safe speed and drive within speculated speed limit to arrive their destinations alive.

On Wednesday, a female passenger lost her life after falling off from a moving shuttle bus in Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area of the State.

The crash which occurred around 2pm, involved the shuttle bus with Registration number: ABA313ZJ and a tipper with no registration number.

The deceased, said to have had boarded the already filled bus and had to sit close to the door which was partially open, suddenly fell off from the moving vehicle.

She was reportedly hit by the tipper truck which the bus driver was attempting to overtake.

Also confirming the crash, FRSC boss, Irelewuyi blamed the crash on wrongful overtaking.

He condoled with the deceased family, and urged motorist to exercise patience while driving; at the same time ensure the roads were clear and safe before overtaking.