...Small Fowl Saves 'Eze' Shuttle Bus Driver
By
Uzo Ugwunze
No fewer than five
persons sustained various degrees of injuries when a 40-foot trailer fell off
the Nkpor fly-over bridge on Saturday, June 13, 2026, and crushed four vehicles
beneath the fly-over.
According to
eyewitnesses, the trailer was climbing the fly-over when the driver lost
control, veered off the road, and crash-landed on top of four vehicles,
including two shuttle buses loading passengers, an Audi car, and another
trailer passing beneath the fly-over.
The eyewitnesses stated
that, at the last count, five persons, including passers-by, a driver, and
passengers, sustained various degrees of injuries.
It was
gathered that one of the drivers, the owner of a shuttle bus with registration
number BKL661XA and the vehicle that was most severely damaged beyond repair,
identified himself as Amaechi Eze, a native of Ukehe in Igbo-Etiti Local
Government Area of Enugu State. He narrowly escaped death because he had just
left his vehicle and entered a side drainage to rescue a stray chick that had
fallen into the drainage and was crying for help when the trailer crash-landed
from the fly-over and smashed the four vehicles, including his own.
Amaechi
Eze, who expressed gratitude to God for saving his life, called on concerned
citizens to come to his aid now that his vehicle has been damaged beyond
repair.
Confirming
the incident, the Sector Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety
Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Command, Margaret Onabe, identified the affected
vehicles as a Mercedes-Benz articulated truck with registration number
FTD581XA, a commercial shuttle bus with registration number ENU540ZJ, a
commercial shuttle bus with registration number BKL661XA, and an Audi
Volkswagen car with registration number ENU528MK.
Onabe
noted that the FRSC received a distress call at about 1:10 p.m., and the rescue
team from RS5.31A Upper Iweka Outpost arrived at the crash scene by 1:15 p.m.
She added that a total of six adult males were involved in the crash. Two
sustained minor injuries, while four escaped unhurt, and no fatalities were
recorded.
She
disclosed that a preliminary investigation identified brake failure and veering
off the bridge as the probable causes of the crash. According to eyewitnesses,
the trailer suffered brake failure, veered off the bridge, and fell onto the
other vehicles beneath it.
The
statement added: “Before the arrival of the FRSC rescue team, the injured
victims had already been evacuated to a nearby hospital for immediate medical
attention.”
“To
ensure the free flow of traffic and prevent secondary crashes, the FRSC
heavy-duty tow truck unit was promptly contacted to clear the obstruction
caused by the affected vehicles.”
“The
Sector Commander, Corps Commander Bridget Asekhauno, wishes the injured a quick
recovery and advises motorists, especially operators of articulated vehicles
and commercial transport services, to always carry out routine vehicle
maintenance and ensure that braking systems are in proper working condition
before embarking on any journey.”
“The FRSC remains committed to its mandate of ensuring safer
roads and prompt emergency response to road traffic crashes across the state.
As of the time of this report, normalcy is being restored on the road and the
movement of vehicles,” Onabe stated.
Post a Comment