Truck crushes couple, son in Anambra

By Vincent Ujumadu

Awka—A man, wife and their eldest son were, yesterday, crushed to death in an accident involving their ash-coloured Toyota Camry and a container-bearing truck at Agu Awka end of Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

The accident

The family’s six-month-old baby boy, his four-year-old brother and seven-year-old sister, who survived, were in very critical condition and are receiving treatment at the Regina Caeli Hospital, Awka.

At press time, the wrecked remains of the family’s car were still beneath the truck, with many sympathizers wailing and cursing the truck driver.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the driver of the truck, with number plates LSR 897XQ, ran away immediately the incident occurred.

According to the eyewitness, when people noticed the high speed with which the truck was moving, they started waving, trying to slow him down.

The eyewitness added that it was a few seconds after that that he rammed into the car, which was heading towards Enugu.

 

Casualties

The victim, Mr. Okechukwu Odinigwe, who died on the spot alongside his wife and the eldest son, hailed from Urunnebo village in Enugwu Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The three surviving children, two boys and a girl, were rushed to Regina Caeli Hospital, Awka, for treatment by men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC.

When Vanguard visited the hospital yesterday, the three were seen at the intensive care unit, with the doctors battling to save their lives.

A large number of policemen and men of FRSC were later seen at the scene of the accident going through some of the documents that littered the area.

Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Uche Eze, said investigation into the cause of the accident had begun.

 

… as bus plunges into Okpu River

Elsewhere yesterday, a bus driver lost his life when his vehicle fell into Okpu River, Okija, on Onitsha-Owerri expressway, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The cause of the accident was still not clear at press time.

Meanwhile, Governor Willie Obiano has condoled with the family of the victims of the ghastly motor accident.

A statement from his office said: “Saddened by the development, Obiano has undertaken to pay all medical bills to be incurred by the surviving children, who were receiving treatment at the Regina Caeli Hospital in Awka.

“He expressed his condolence for the lives lost and assured Ndi Anambra that he would always ensure the safety of lives by regulating movement of heavy duty vehicles within the state.”