5 persons dead as trailer loaded with cement fails break, crashes in Anambra

By Madu Obi

A fatal road traffic crash involving a truck loaded with cement occurred on Tuesday at Green Energy Oil and Gas filling station at Eke Awgbu in Orumba North local government area of Anambra State, killing five people.

The truck belonging to BUA, with no registration number, hit many vehicles as the driver lost control and eventually crashed.

A commercial tricycle with registration number: NZH84LG, a commercial QLINK motorcycle with registration number OLU245QV and a private Honda motorcycle with no registration number, were involved in the accident.

Ag Sector Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, in Anambra State, Margaret Onabe confirmed that five people, four males and one female, were killed instantly, while the injured persons were taken to hospital for treatment.

According to Onabe, the probable cause of the fatal road traffic crash was either excessive speed or brake failure.

Onabe in a statement said: "According to eyewitness, the driver of the truck was on speed, had a brake failure, lost control of the vehicle, and collided with the other vehicles at a check point and crashed.

"Eleven persons were involved in the crash comprising nine male adults, and two female adults. Five male adults and one female adult sustained varying degrees of injury, while four male adults and one female adult were killed."

She said that before the arrival of FRSC rescue team from RS5.35 Igboukwu, the injured victims were already rushed to Referral Health Centre, Awgbu by passersby, while the dead victims were deposited at St Joseph's Hospital mortuary, Adazi.

She added that the rescue team had managed the traffic in the area by ensuring that obstruction caused by the crash was cleared.

The Sector Commander FRSC, Adeoye Irelewuyi, has commiserated with the family of the dead victims, even as he urged motorist to maintain safe speed when driving.