A fast-moving Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle crashed into a road parade organized by the United Evangelical Church, Abayi International, along Aba-Owerri road in Aba, Abia State In a harrowing incident on Thursday around 6 pm.

The parade, which included women and members of the church’s Boys Brigade band, was in celebration of International Women’s Day.

The crash resulted in 21 members of the church being rushed to the Abia State University Teaching Hospital in Aba for urgent medical attention. Many of the victims, including a pregnant woman, sustained severe injuries such as broken legs, hands, head injuries, and other forms of internal injuries.

The pastor in charge of the church, Nnamdi Kelvin, expressed his distress over the incident, stating that the members were hit from behind by the speeding vehicle. He described the incident as both reckless and terrible, leaving the church members in a perilous situation.

Speaking about the aftermath of the accident, Pastor Nnamdi Kelvin said, “It’s a sad day for us. The parade was meant to celebrate International Women’s Day, but it turned into a tragedy. Our members were hit from behind by the vehicle. It’s reckless and terrible.”

Amidst their pain, some of the injured victims pleaded for financial assistance from the Abia State government to facilitate their medical treatment. The severity of the injuries prompted relatives to transport four additional victims to an undisclosed private hospital.

The driver of the Jeep, who claimed brake failure as the cause of the accident, has been arrested and handed over to the World Bank Police station, Abayi. Investigations into the incident are ongoing as the community grapples with the aftermath of the tragic event.