Multiple Accidents Plague Onitsha-Awka Expressway, Injuring Eight
Anambra State, Nigeria – A chaotic Thursday unfolded along the busy Onitsha–Awka–Enugu Expressway in Anambra State, as a series of road mishaps left at least eight individuals with varying degrees of injuries. The most significant incident involved a gas tanker that collided with two commercial shuttle buses, sending shockwaves through the otherwise bustling corridor. Several other commuters narrowly escaped what could have been fatal encounters.
Eyewitness accounts painted a grim picture of the events that transpired. The primary collision occurred when a tanker carrying Liquefied Petroleum Gas reportedly lost control and impacted two commercial shuttle buses. The aftermath saw the two buses overturned and lying precariously on their sides, while the gas tanker plunged into a roadside drainage, a testament to the force of the impact.
One bystander, Ifeoma Uzor, recounted the sequence of events, attributing the initial loss of control to the tanker driver attempting a high-speed overtake. According to Uzor, the tanker, identified by the registration number KSF 829 UR, swerved to avoid a shuttle bus that was picking up passengers. In the evasive maneuver, the tanker struck a second shuttle bus, causing it to somersault multiple times before coming to rest upside down.
Uzor also pointed fingers at the shuttle bus drivers, suggesting their roadside parking to collect passengers contributed to the dangerous situation. “The driver of the gas tanker was on a top speed and encountered a shuttle bus which was picking up passengers along the road,” Uzor stated. “He tried to avoid the shuttle bus and, in the process, hit another shuttle bus, which somersaulted multiple times before landing upside down.”
The cascading nature of the accident became apparent as the tanker, after hitting the first shuttle bus, then collided with another before ultimately crashing into the drainage. The scene was described as catastrophic, with passengers from both buses sustaining serious injuries. Fortunately, some commuters were rescued unhurt from the wreckage.
As of the latest reports, approximately eight passengers were extricated from the two commercial buses. Their injuries ranged from head trauma to damage to their ankles and arms. Passersby swiftly came to their aid, rushing the injured to a nearby hospital. Emergency services were alerted, with calls made to the Federal Road Safety Corps for their intervention.
The tanker driver, who identified himself only as Nnamdi, offered his perspective on the incident. He claimed to have been driving within his lane when a shuttle bus stopped to pick up passengers. “I avoided the bus but as I attempted to re-enter another lane, the vehicle collided with another shuttle bus, which was trying to drop off passengers, and it resulted in the crash,” Nnamdi explained.
Tensions briefly flared at the scene as an agitated mob, angered by the unfolding disaster, reportedly attempted to confront the tanker driver. However, the prompt arrival of police officers helped to de-escalate the situation and restore order. A police officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the injured were quickly transported to a local hospital and that security personnel worked to maintain calm. The officer echoed the sentiments of eyewitnesses, attributing the accident to a combination of wrongful parking by commercial drivers and the tanker driver’s reckless overtaking.
A Day of Road Mayhem
The Onitsha–Awka Expressway was not solely the scene of the gas tanker incident. Thursday’s events saw a disturbing pattern of accidents along this critical route.
- Container Trailer Overturn: Further along the highway, near the Ntenje axis, a trailer carrying a 40-foot container reportedly lost control and overturned. The incident resulted in the container’s contents spilling onto the roadway, causing significant disruption.
- Second Container Trailer Mishap: Adding to the traffic chaos, another trailer transporting a 40-foot container overturned near the Zone 13 area. This second incident further exacerbated the obstruction of traffic flow.
These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the daily risks faced by commuters on Nigerian roads. The authorities are urged to investigate these occurrences thoroughly and implement measures to enhance road safety and prevent future tragedies. The cumulative impact of these accidents underscores the urgent need for improved traffic management and adherence to safety regulations across the nation’s highways.
