Tragedy struck in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Monday when a truck fell off a heavy duty vehicle and crushed people suspected to be students of the Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo.
Sources said that the vehicle which was coming from Port Harcourt fell off the heavy duty vehicle and crushed people who were standing on the road side.
Our correspondent learnt that the incident happened opposite the Polytechnic’ s main gate on the ever busy Owerri – Port Harcourt expressway.
An eyewitness who refused to disclose his identity said that the incident happened between 9. 30 am and 10 am when the victims were apparently going to school.
He said, “A vehicle was conveying a truck from Port Harcourt to Owerri but unfortunately it slipped off and fell on innocent people who were going for their businesses. Some of the victims are students of Imo State Polytechnic who were going to school.
“Nobody anticipated it because it happened within few seconds. As we speak, no rescue mission has begun. People are trapped under the truck. ”
Confirming the mishap, the State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, told our correspondent
on the telephone that the number of casualties had yet to be ascertained by his command.
He said that heavy duty equipment was being sourced for so that an emergency operation could commence.
Ezike said, “Yes, I am aware. There are casualties but we cannot say the exact number.
We don’t want to speculate. We are looking for heavy duty equipment for the rescue mission to commence. ”
Our correspondent saw hands of some persons who were trapped.
As of the time of filing this report no rescue operation had begun.
