Pregnant woman, 7 others die in Onitsha auto crash

No fewer than seven persons, including a pregnant woman, yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, lost their lives, while about 15 others sustained various degrees of injuries in an accident involving a tanker and other vehicles.

The accident, according to an eyewitness, occurred when a fuel-laden tanker, descending Awka Road, had brake failure and rammed into vehicles at Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS/Awka Road traffic light junction.

According to the source, the driver, in a bid to avoid more destruction, crushed a blue Mitsubishi bus, fully loaded with passengers, and then hit four tricycles.

A source said: “The pregnant woman was standing at the bus stop, perhaps waiting for a bus, when she was crushed by the tanker. Others were mostly passengers in the four tricycles that were hit in the multiple accidents”

Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Philip Ezekiel, the Inland Town Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Cosmas Eze and the Onitsha Central Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Isa Abubakar, all battled to save lives.

Officials of Fire Service rushed to the scene of the crash to prevent the petrol tanker from exploding.