Seven persons lost their lives and over six others sustained serious injuries in a fatal accident involving a tanker at the NITEL axis of Upper Iweka express road,of the commercial city of Onitsha.
The accident which occurred around two o’clock Wednesday afternoon, involved a thirty three thousand capacity tanker,fully loaded with kerosene ran into the service lane and landed around Peace Park, Upper Iweka killing road side petty traders, intending travellers and passers by around the area.
According to an eye witness,Mr. Emma Ike, the tanker driver was coming down from the Army Gate portion of the express way, when he lost control of the vehicle, thereby crushing many,and left others with various degrees of injuries.
When ABS arrived the scene, Security personnel were seen on ground, with the members of Anambra Traffic Management Agency,ATMA, and Anambra state fire service, among others, were at hand to control human and vehicular movement as the area witnessed traffic congestion.
ABS also visited Toronto , Upper Iweka, Onitsha where some of the dead bodies were deposited ,with medical personnel were battling to save lives.
Describing the ugly incident as unfortunate, the state Chairman Nigerian Red Cross Society, Professor Peter Katchy suspected carelessness on the part of the tanker driver.
He said the number of victims and casualties could have been on the increase, if not for the state government ‘s measures to discourage street trading.
Prof. Katchy lamented several state government’s efforts aimed at securing the area, pointing out the dangers inherent in trading along the roads and streets.
Contributing an ATMA official,Mr. Eze Nduka who recalled similar incident that claimed several lives on the said area discouraged the issue of street trading and other business activities along the high ways.
A cross section of people, who were in a sad mood called on the government to enforce restrictions of heavy duty vehicles plying the road in the day time, in other to save lives.
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