A pregnant woman and seven others have died while about 15 others sustained different degrees of injuries in a road accident which occurred over the weekend in Onitsha, Anambra State.
It was learnt that the tragic incident happened after a 40-foot tanker filled with fuel from Awka road in the commercial city lost its brakes and rammed into vehicles waiting for the traffic light at the ABS/Awka road traffic light junction.
While trying to avoid more tragedy, the driver attempted to control the tanker, but his efforts proved abortive as he crushed a blue Mitsubishi bus that loaded passengers to full capacity and then hit four tricycles at a stretch, resulting in the casualties, Leadership reports.
The pregnant victim was said to be waiting for a bus at the bus stop before she fell victim to the tanker accident.
A source who witnessed the incident said, “The pregnant woman was standing at the bus-stop waiting for a commuter bus when she was crushed by the tanker.
“Others were mostly passengers in the four tricycles that were hit in the multiple accidents.”
The operatives of the state fire service arrived the scene with their water-laden vehicles in case of necessity.
The Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Philip Ezekiel, the Inland Town Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr. Isa Abubakar, were seen at the scene of the accident trying to save lives.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Okpoko Police Division, Mr. Emeka Ugwu was among those who sent officers and men of the police on getting distress call.
Confirming the accident, the DPO in charge of Onitsha Inland Town, Mr. Eze said, “Only the pregnant woman was killed, others were injured and sent to both Borromeo and Onitsha General Hospitals.”
“Well I will soon go round when we must have cleared the road to ascertain if those who sustained injuries later gave up the ghost.
“The driver and the conductor of the tanker are in our custody and the driver said he lost control of the vehicle.”
The road where the tragic incident took place was subsequently obstructed from Mba Road Junction to Okosi Road Junction to enable the evacuation of the tanker and the dead victims of the accident.
