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Tragedy struck around the Area Command Bus Stop in the Nnewi community in Anambra State when a truck fully loaded with cement crashed into a residential building, killing a yet-to-be-disclosed number of persons, including about five members of a family.
Sources said the incident occurred late on Friday when residents of the community had gathered around their vicinity, and the family was also getting ready for dinner.
It was gathered that the truck suffered a brake failure, which caused the driver to lose control, leading to the collision with several buildings before finally crashing at the house situated not far from the main road.
An eyewitness said, “The incident happened late on Friday when most people were at their compound. The loud noise from the crash alerted the residents and other passers-by to the scene. It subsequently created a rowdy scene as residents and passers-by tried to remove some victims who got stuck
“The driver of the trailer carrying cement lost control at Ugwu-Akpati Ozu, Nnewi and crashed at Me Court Junction, near Nnewi Police Area Command Bus Stop. The truck cleared several structures and some persons before ramming into the residential building, killing about five children of a family.
“It was an unfortunate incident that occurred while some people gathered at their various compounds celebrating Valentine’s Day. The driver was also killed in the accident while several victims were still stuck under the truck.”
The mother of the affected children was also seen crying while residents consoled her. Some lifeless bodies were also seen on the crashed scene.
A senior police officer at Nnewi Area Command, who craved anonymity as he was not authorised to speak, confirmed the incident.
He said, “It’s only the PPRO that can speak officially, but what happened is that the driver of the truck failed to brake and rammed into a residential building, killing some victims.
“The police had commenced a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash and assured the public that further details would be provided in due course.”
When contacted over the development on Saturday, the spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps in Anambra, Margaret Onabe, who confirmed the incident, said the crash was recorded late on Friday while promising to reach out to the FRSC personnel on the ground for more details.
