Three persons lost their lives on Friday evening in an auto crash that occurred at the Emene area in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu capital city. Two other persons sustained serious injuries in the accident involving a truck belonging to a construction company and a mini commuter bus.
It was learnt that the truck carrying laterite collided with a minibus at old Orie Emene Junction around 7:00 pm. The mini-bus conveying seven passengers and the driver, was en route from Old Park to Emene when tragedy struck at a point the driver stopped to discharge his passengers.
In a chaotic scramble for escape, some passengers came out unhurt, but eyewitnesses said three were unlucky as they were mercilessly crushed beneath the weight of the truck. Two other passengers who sustained injuries were rushed to the Annunciation Hospital in Emene where they are currently battling for survival.
Eyewitnesses attributed the crash to the carelessness of the truck driver as there was no obstruction on the road to warrant such a carnage. There was no evidence of speeding or brake failure though the security agencies have commenced investigations to ascertain what could have caused the accident.
“We can hardly fathom what happened here this evening. It feels surreal, especially at such a busy junction,” one eyewitness, who only identified himself as Okechi Michael, lamented.
He continued, “The truck approached the junction from Adoration Road and crossed the railway line before hitting the minibus at the junction. The truck wasn’t speeding, and there was no brake failure—the driver careened into the bus right after crossing the tracks.
“The police have apprehended the truck driver, but I fear they might be swayed by the construction firm to let him slip away scot-free. This driver must be rigorously scrutinized and charged with manslaughter or even first-degree murder. Those three lives lost, along with the two still clinging to life, demand justice.”
