Three Feared Dead As Trailer Crushes Tricycle In Anambra
No fewer than three persons were feared dead, while others were trapped on Thursday morning when a trailer conveying a 40-foot container fell and crushed a commercial tricycle at the Mgbaemene Bus Stop, near Upper Iweka, along the Onitsha–Owerri Expressway in Anambra State.
According to PUNCH, the incident occurred around 6:48 a.m. when the trailer, whose registration number was reportedly defaced, lost balance while navigating through a bad portion of the road. The heavy container it was carrying fell off and landed on a tricycle carrying passengers beside it.
Eyewitnesses said the driver of the trailer lost control while trying to manoeuvre through the damaged section of the road. The tricycle rider and two passengers were said to have died instantly, while others were trapped under the wreckage.
One eyewitness said, “The accident happened in a flash. The tricycle was moving close to the trailer when the vehicle tilted and the container dropped on it. Three people died immediately, and some others were trapped. The potholes on this road caused this tragedy.”
Another witness, a resident identified simply as Udoka, blamed the accident on the deplorable condition of the Onitsha–Owerri Expressway.
“That spot has become a death trap. Every day, vehicles struggle to pass through because of the deep potholes. Until the government repairs this road, more people will die here,” she lamented.
It was gathered that passers-by, drivers, and residents immediately began rescue operations before security agents arrived.
Personnel of the Rapid Response Squad later cordoned off the area, while operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) battled to control the surging crowd.
As of 10:24 a.m., a crane brought in from Asaba, Delta State, had arrived to evacuate the fallen container and tricycle from the scene.
However, efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Anambra State Command of the FRSC, Margaret Onabe, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to her phone went unanswered.
Incidents involving articulated vehicles and tricycles have become increasingly frequent along the Onitsha–Owerri Expressway, especially around the Upper Iweka and Mgbaemene areas notorious for deep potholes and poor drainage.
The FRSC has repeatedly cautioned truck drivers to maintain low speed and exercise utmost care when driving along the route, while residents continue to appeal to the Federal Government to rehabilitate the expressway to prevent further loss of lives.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
