SEVERAL persons were feared dead on Friday night after a trailer lost control and rammed into them along the Chisco Park Junction in Amichi, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
It was gathered that the fatal accident occurred around 9:30pm when the driver of the trailer experienced brake failure and crashed into pedestrians on the roadside, resulting in multiple fatalities.
The incident which was also captured on the Amichi City-wide CCTV system, showed some of the knocked-down victims lying on the ground, while some residents and other road users were seen bemoaning the incident and offering rescue assistance to the victims.
Some eyewitnesses near the scene told our correspondent said the accident occurred within a short period of time as the victims who were mostly doing their usual night business did not see the incoming trailer towards them.
One of the eyewitnesses, who gave his name simply as Uche, said, “The crash, which occurred at about 9:30pm yesterday(Friday) came as a shock given the short period within which everything happened.
“The people were doing their usual night business and engaging in their usual activities while some passengers were waiting to board vehicles when the trailer uncontrollably rammed into them, knocking many down, including motorcyclists, a little girl, bystanders, and some petty traders.
“Some road users who saw the trailer on time as it was dangerously approaching the area were able to escape the tragedy. Several persons who were knocked were mostly those waiting to board vehicles and some people doing business near the park.
“The bodies of the victims lay on the ground before the rescue operations from pedestrians and the arrival of security operatives.”
When contacted on the development on Saturday, the Spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps, Anambra sector, Margaret Onabe, confirmed the incident, but could not give the actual casualty figure.
“Yes, we received the accident of the accident, but information about the crash and the casualty rate is still being gathered, we will issue a statement soon,” Onabe said.
