A tragic multiple-vehicle accident claimed three lives and injured five others on Sunday in Oba, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the incident, which occurred along the Owerri-Oraifite-Onitsha road.
Mr. Adeoye Irelewuyi, the FRSC Sector Commander in Anambra, informed journalists in Onitsha that the crash involved eight vehicles, including a commercial motorcycle, three yellow tricycles, two Toyota Hiace commercial buses, a white Mack trailer, and a navy blue Toyota Camry, all without registration numbers.
Irelewuyi attributed the cause of the accident to brake failure, resulting in a loss of control. According to an eyewitness, tax collectors were stopping tricycles to collect taxes when the Mack truck, experiencing brake failure, lost control and rammed into the other vehicles.
“Fifteen people were involved in the crash, with five persons injured—three male and two female adults. Sadly, three persons were killed, including two males and one female child, while seven people were rescued unhurt,” Irelewuyi stated.
Passersby rushed the casualties to the hospital before the arrival of the FRSC rescue team from the RS5.36 Oraifite Unit Command. The scene became tense as hoodlums and an angry mob, wielding machetes, protested against the revenue collectors, blaming them for causing the crash.
The sector commander expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a swift recovery. He also warned motorists to adhere strictly to traffic rules and regulations, emphasizing the importance of servicing their vehicles to ensure minimum safety standards before hitting the road.
The FRSC continues to investigate the incident and urges all road users to prioritize safety to prevent such avoidable tragedies.
