Tragedy struck late Thursday evening at the Ulasi River Bridge, Okija Junction, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, as a mother and her child were crushed to death when a trailer lost control and rammed into a commercial bus.
The trailer, reportedly experiencing brake failure, collided with a Toyota Hiace bus conveying passengers from Upper Iweka in Onitsha and heading towards Owerri.
The impact was so severe that it led to the immediate death of the woman and her child, while several other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the hospital.
Eyewitnesses blamed the crash on the activities of touts, who allegedly blocked the road to extort commercial drivers. It was during this interruption, they claimed, that the speeding trailer lost control.
One of the witnesses, Ibeabuchi Edeoga, who was near the scene, said, “The accident was caused by touts who blocked the road and were collecting money from drivers. The trailer failed brakes and overran the bus. A woman and her child died instantly. All the victims were unconscious when taken to the hospital, and by this morning, more deaths have been reported.”
Another witness, Uchenna Odinaka, recounted how the bridge’s railings prevented further carnage. “I was heading home when it happened. The trailer could have crushed more vehicles and people if not for the railings on the bridge. The driver and his motor boy were rescued, but two people died on the spot, and many others were rushed to the hospital unconscious,” he said.
A video circulating online showed the mangled vehicle surrounded by concerned pedestrians trying to assist the injured, with lifeless bodies still lying on the roadside as others awaited emergency responders.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Anambra State, Margaret Onabe, confirmed the incident.
She stated, “Yes, we received the report of the accident, but the actual casualty figures are still being verified. Investigations into the cause are ongoing, and an official statement will be released soon.”
