Onitsha road accident claims three lives as driver counts money on steering

By CHUKWUJEKWU ILOZUE, Awka

Popular musician, Kenny Rogers’ advice that ‘you don’t count your money while sitting on the table as there will be time enough to do that when the deal is done” proved valuable on Tuesday when a bus driver of a transport company rammed his bus into a stationary trailer, killing two.

According to an eyewitness account, the driver was counting money on steering when the crash occurred at Okija by Ihialla- Onitsha Expressway at about 3.35 pm.

The eyewitness said that the accident involved a Mercedes Trailer with registration number: XF-123-JJT commercial and a Toyota Hiace bus commercial, with registration number: XC-505ATN belonging to Imo State Transport Company (RTC)

Eye witness account said the probable cause of the fatal crash was the loss of control and excessive speed as the bus driver was counting money while driving at excessive speed and rammed into the parked trailer which had a tyre burst.

Nine people – five male adults, and four female adults – were involved in the crash with six casualties. Two male adults were killed.

The second fatal crash which occurred at Ken MADUAKO Drinks Depot by Ihialla- Onitsha Expressway the same day, involved two vehicles, an Iveco Trailer with no registration number and a Mack Tanker without a registration number.

The cause of the fatal crash was attributed to excessive speed. According to an eyewitness, the Mack Tanker driver who was driving with excessive speed sighted the Iveco truck coming out of Ken MADUAKO’s Drinks Depot and lost control.

Suspecting a possible crash ahead, the conductor of the Mack tanker jumped out of the vehicle and was smashed by the rear tyre of the Tanker.

In all, four people all males were involved while three of them were injured.

The conductor who jumped out of the trailer died while the injured victims were rushed to Our Lady’s of Lourdes by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and police personnel and one male adult was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

The Sector Commander Anambra State Corps Adeoye Irelewuyi has condoled the family of the dead and wishes the injured victims a quick recovery.

He urged the motoring public to watch and maintain a safe speed limit and to maintain traffic rules and regulations must always. (Daily Independent)