Tragedy struck on Thursday evening at the Ulasi River Bridge near Okija Junction in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, when a speeding trailer reportedly lost its brakes and crashed into a commercial bus, killing a woman and her child instantly.
The fatal incident, which occurred during peak rush hour, left several others injured.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that those wounded were rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.
According to residents, the Toyota Hiace bus involved in the crash had been halted on the bridge by revenue collectors when the trailer, coming at high speed, rammed into it from behind.
Describing the scene, one witness, Ibeabuchi Edeoga, said, “The road was blocked by touts collecting money from drivers. A trailer on high speed lost its brakes and overran the bus. A woman and her child died instantly. Many passengers were unconscious when they were taken to the hospital, and this morning, we heard that some of them didn’t survive.”
Another eyewitness, Uchenna Odinaka, credited the bridge’s railings for averting a larger tragedy.
“If not for the railings, the truck could have crushed more people and vehicles. The driver and his motor boy were rescued, but the two victims were already gone before help came,” he said.
The Anambra State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the incident but noted that investigations were still underway to determine the exact cause and the full extent of casualties.
“We received a report of the accident and have commenced investigations. Further details will be released after our findings,” said FRSC spokesperson, Margaret Onabe.
