Six people have lost their lives in a road accident which occurred in the Mmuri axis of Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.
An eye witness said the accident happened when a Metrix147 trailer filled with chipping which overturned and trapped several people under its crushing weight on that Sunday at about 1:30 pm.
He added that while many of the victims pleaded for help as they endured unbearable pain, rescue efforts were insufficient to save their lives.
In an interview, the President General of the Ebem Ohafia Development Union, where the bridge is located, Emeka Mba, described the day as a “black Sunday”.
Mba stated, “Well, today should be regarded as a black Sunday because of the killings. As I speak to you, many people are still trapped under the truck.
“I learned that one of the survivors is a lady with her two children sitting in front of the bus. But several others are still under the vehicle, and it’s a very helpless situation,” he said.
Mba lamented the lack of emergency response equipment to move the heavy-duty truck. “We have tried everything. We could not get any equipment to lift the truck and rescue the people underneath. It’s a very ugly situation,” he explained.
When asked about the condition of the road, Chief Mba highlighted the poor state of the area and blamed the tragedy on government negligence, stating, “That section of the road is very low, and we’ve done a lot of press statements and documentation to draw the government’s attention to it. This is a small road and heavy-duty trucks should be restricted until proper measures are put in place.”
Confirming the incident on Monday, the Abia State Road Traffic and Safety Management Agency in a statement by its spokesman, Nelson Anya, confirmed the accident in a statement on Monday.
Anya said the accident occurred on Sunday when a trailer loaded with chippings collided with a Sienna bus carrying nine passengers.
He added that one of the passengers sustained injury.
“ARTSMA officials, led by the General Manager, Col. Ezichi Kalu (retd.), promptly responded to the distress call and arrived at the scene to provide critical intervention.
“The team mobilized resources, including a crane and two towing vans, to rescue victims and manage the situation.
“Regrettably, six individuals lost their lives on the spot, one passenger sustained severe injuries, while two others suffered varying degrees of injuries,” he said.
The agency extended its condolences to the deceased families of and to the affected road transport workers.
It also wished the injured travellers a swift and full recovery.
The agency announced that the road has been fully cleared and reopened to traffic.
It advised motorists to drive cautiously and adhere to traffic regulations to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
“ARTSMA remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety and efficiency of Abia State’s roadways.
“This incident highlights the critical need for collective responsibility in upholding road safety guidelines”, the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Ctz Ukoha Kalu Ukoha said the Abia State Government, ABSG acted swiftly to save lives with the provision of cranes and towing vans to rescue the victims and clearing of the road.
