A tragic road accident claimed the lives of two individuals on Thursday morning in Onitsha, Anambra State, after a trailer carrying a container lost balance and its load fell onto a tricycle (Keke), crushing its passengers.
The fatal incident occurred around 8:20 a.m. along the Owerri–Onitsha Road, a stretch notorious for its deteriorating condition.
Eyewitnesses reported that the trailer was navigating a badly damaged section of the road when the container it was transporting became dislodged and fell directly onto the tricycle, which was carrying four passengers at the time.
“Two of the occupants were trapped inside and died on the spot, while the other two managed to escape without injuries,” a witness said, attributing the cause of the accident to the poor state of the road.
Confirming the incident, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander in Anambra, Corps Commander Bridget Asekhauno, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and emphasized the urgent need for road users to adhere to safety measures.
“The FRSC RS5.31A Upper Iweka Outpost responded immediately to the crash. The rescue team, in collaboration with the Police, secured the area and managed traffic flow,” she said.
According to her, both victims were extricated from beneath the container and rushed to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
She further stated that the tricycle, which was red in color, bore no registration number. Similarly, the trailer also lacked identifiable markings or a visible plate number.
A tow truck was deployed to remove the trailer from the scene, and normal traffic flow was restored shortly after.
Commander Asekhauno urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to exercise greater caution and obey traffic regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future.
“We commend the swift action of the Police and our rescue team. The FRSC remains committed to ensuring safety on our roads,” she added.
