…the fatal crash has been attributed to brake failure and excessive speeding by a trailer driver.
IHIALA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | A fatal road traffic crash involving six vehicles claimed the life of one man and left four others injured on Saturday morning along the Ihiala-Owerri Road, near BASCO Hotel in Ihiala, Anambra State.
The incident, which occurred around 9:12 a.m. on October 4, has been attributed to brake failure and excessive speeding by a trailer driver, according to eyewitness reports.
The collision involved a Mack trailer, a Lexus 350 SUV (YAB-131-DA), an Inveco truck (ABC-693-XD), a Mitsubishi L300 truck (JJJ-488-SQ), a Toyota Camry (MKA-331-AA), and another Inveco tipper (HAL-604-ZX). All eight individuals involved in the crash were male.
“The trailer lost its brakes while speeding and rammed into the other vehicles,” an eyewitness said, painting a grim picture of the chaos and destruction that followed.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed that the driver of the Lexus SUV died on the spot and has been deposited in the morgue of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala. Four other victims, all male, sustained varying degrees of injury and are currently receiving treatment at the same hospital.
Reacting to the incident, the Sector Commander of the FRSC Anambra State Command, Corps Commander Bridget Asekhauno, extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and urged all drivers to prioritize safety over speed.
“We urge all drivers to exercise caution, drive within the designated speed limit, and maintain maximum concentration while driving,” she said.
She emphasized the need for defensive driving techniques and strict compliance with traffic regulations, especially on busy and accident-prone highways.
The FRSC rescue team from Unit RS5.34 Ihiala responded swiftly, evacuating the injured and working to restore traffic flow on the heavily trafficked route.
Sector Public Education Officer, SRC Margaret B. Onabe, also appealed to road users to be more vigilant and patient. She encouraged citizens to report emergencies promptly via the Corps’ toll-free number 122.
The Anambra State Command reiterated its commitment to road safety and called for collective responsibility among drivers, transport unions, and commuters to prevent further tragedies on Nigerian roads.
