Up to 10 persons are believed to have lost their lives after an articulated vehicle loaded with stone chippings fell on a Sienna space bus in Ebem Ohafia, along the Ohafia-Bende-Umuahia road in Abia State.
Eyewitnesses said the accident occurred on Sunday, December 22, 2024, when the vehicle developed a brake problem while descending Nmuri Hill on its way to Ohafia from Umuahia, and fell on the bus, trapping the occupants underneath its crushing weight.
“Unfortunately, the driver lost control of the vehicle and it struck the car which was coming from the opposite direction and fell on it,” the eyewitness said.
The victims were left pleading for help, enduring excruciating pain for hours as rescue efforts fell short.
The eyewitnesses lamented that the accident was partly due to the deplorable condition of the road.
“How come the federal government has failed to rehabilitate the road over the years?” he queried.
As at press time, efforts were on to discharge the chippings in order to upturn the articulated truck and bring out the bodies of the driver of the car and the passengers.
Watch clips from the scene here.
