The Federal Road Safety Corps, Anambra Sector has blamed vehicle brake failure for the tragedy that occurred at the Oye-Agu Market, along the Onitsha-Awka-Enugu Old Road in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state, on Wednesday, when a speeding vehicle crashed into the market.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the accident, which occurred at about 10:10 am left no fewer than three persons, including a five-year-old girl dead and others injured.
Several items and wares of the traders were also damaged and spilt to the road.
However, the FRSC officials and the state police command said the incident killed one person.
Some of the eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the driver of the ill-fated commercial Toyota Sienna vehicle lost control of its brake and crashed into the market, thereby crushing some of the roadside traders.
One of the eyewitnesses said, “The driver of the vehicle lost control and as he was struggling, he veered and crashed into the market, thereby hitting some of the roadside traders. The incident happened this morning just as the traders were settling down for business after observing their environmental sanitation.
“The vehicle was coming from the Awka end of the road before it crashed at the market. The incident caused panic and a crowded scene in the market environs with various rescue efforts carried out to rescue trapped victims, while some of the victims were rushed to a nearby hospital before the arrival of the FRSC and the state police.”
Confirming the incident, the acting Sector Public Education Officer of the FRSC, Margaret Onabe, attributed the cause of the crash to brake failure.
Onabe said, “A fatal road traffic crash was recorded today, September 11, 2024, at Oye-Agu Ifete. The fatal crash was a lone crash. The driver was identified as Eze Uchechukwu with a commercial Toyota Sienna with registration number NEN588YX belonging to TRACAS.
“The probable cause of the crash was attributed to brake failure. According to an eyewitness account, the Toyota Sienna lost its brake, rammed into Oye-Agu Market and crashed.
“Seven people comprising one male adult, three female adults, and three female children were involved in the crash. One female child was killed.
One male adult, three female adults and two female children were injured.”
She further stated that at the time the FRSC rescue team from the RS5.3 Nteje arrived at the scene, they were informed that the injured victims had been taken to the Urban Hospital and Maternity for medical attention, while the dead victim was taken to the morgue. The vehicle was taken by DTO team Oye-Agu.
She added that the FRSC team visited the hospital where the victims were taken for medical attention to ascertain the condition of the injured victims.
“The Sector Commander Anambra State, Corps Commander Joyce Alexander, sympathises with the family of the dead victim and wishes the injured victims quick recovery.
“She admonishes motorists to service their vehicles regularly to comply with minimum safety standards before using the road.
She also warned market women to stop displaying their wares, and selling by the roadside,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnaghe Itam, has directed the arrest and interrogation of the driver.
The spokesman for the state police, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on the fatal accident.
While condoling with the families of the deceased, the CP cautioned drivers on the need to always do the necessary checks before plying the road.
He said, “The fatal accident occurred today(Wednesday) along Onitsha-Enugu Old Road by Oye Agu Junction in Abagana and resulted in the death of a five-year-old girl and four other persons seriously injured.
“Preliminary information revealed that the accident occurred due to the break failure of the Toyota Sienna vehicle carrying passengers and en route to Lagos rammed into traders selling by the roadside at Oye Agu junction.”
He disclosed that the vehicle has been recovered to the Station as the investigation is ongoing.
One of the survivors, Nkechi, a tomato seller at the market, who spoke from the hospital bed, said, “I am a tomato seller at the market. We had just finished observing our morning environmental sanitation and I was arranging my wares when suddenly I heard a loud noise behind me.
“Before I knew what was happening, I landed inside the gutter where I was picked up and brought to the hospital. Many other traders were badly hit as no one expected it. I thank God for saving my life. Although my tomatoes and peppers have been destroyed in the incident.”
