A tragic accident along the Awka-Enugu Expressway in Anambra State claimed the life of a lawyer, identified as Okechukwu, on Sunday night.
According to The PUNCH, the accident occurred near the Awka area of the expressway after the lawyer’s car collided with an abandoned articulated truck, causing the vehicle to somersault into a nearby drainage.
A sources close to the victim explained that the lawyer had just come from depositing his late mother’s body at the mortuary when the fatal crash took place.
A kinsman, who preferred to remain anonymous, revealed that Okechukwu mistakenly believed the truck was in motion. However, by the time he realized the truck was stationary, it was too late, and the impact caused his car to veer off the road.
“The incident happened on the expressway near Awka. The deceased thought the truck was moving, but when he realised it wasn’t, it was already too late. His car hit the truck, and then it tumbled into the gutter,” the kinsman said.
This tragedy came just months after the lawyer had welcomed a newborn with his wife, whom he married in February.
Now, heartbreakingly, his death has shocked friends and family, especially as he had just completed the arrangements for his mother’s burial.
“He had just put his late mother in the mortuary and was preparing for the funeral. Now, he’s joined her in the mortuary,” the kinsman added, reflecting on the painful irony.
He emphasized that the accident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of life, urging people to cherish every moment.
The incident has sparked outrage among local residents, with many blaming traffic authorities, particularly the Federal Road Safety Corps for failing to clear the dangerous obstruction in a timely manner.
The abandoned truck had reportedly been left in a hazardous position for longer than necessary, posing significant risks to other road users.
“It was an avoidable death caused by allowing abandoned vehicles to stay on the road longer than necessary,” the kinsman lamented.
Okechukwu’s remains have been deposited at the morgue of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Amaku, Awka, after being confirmed dead at the scene.
Criticism mounted against the FRSC for their perceived inaction, with some accusing them of negligence.
In response, the Anambra State Corps Commander of the FRSC, Joyce Alexander, expressed her condolences to the victim’s family and prayed for their comfort during this difficult time.
Alexander explained that the truck could not be towed immediately due to the heavy load it was carrying, but she had instructed her team to mark the scene with reflective tape to warn approaching vehicles.
“I am aware that he ran into a broken-down stationary truck. Unfortunately, this happened in the night, and the FRSC rescue team that went for the rescue operation could not ascertain from any eyewitness what really happened,” Alexander stated.
She ruled out a tyre burst, pointing instead to excessive speed as the likely cause of the crash, noting the presence of skid marks at the scene.
“It was not a tyre burst, as no tyre burst was observed. The only likely explanation is excessive speed which might have led to loss of control. We arrived at this conclusion because of the skid marks and yeo marks trailing on the crash scene,” she said.
Alexander visited the crash site herself to verify the skid marks and the apparent loss of control before the car tumbled.
She added that the FRSC depends heavily on public cooperation and urged citizens to promptly report such incidents through the Corps’ toll-free emergency number: 122.
“We rely on every member of society to alert us on crashes and obstructions,” she noted. Alexander concluded by stating that efforts were underway to offload the truck and remove it from the road as soon as possible.
