Heartbreak in Onitsha as Trailer Crushes Tricycles, Killing Three

At least three people lost their lives and several others were injured on Thursday morning after a trailer carrying a 40-foot container toppled onto three tricycles at the Mgbaemene Bus Stop, near Upper Iweka, along the Onitsha–Owerri Expressway in Anambra State.

The accident, which occurred around 7:20 a.m., reportedly happened when the trailer driver attempted to navigate a badly damaged section of the road riddled with potholes. Witnesses said the driver lost control, causing the heavy container to fall onto the tricycles, trapping their occupants.

Residents, drivers, and passers-by quickly began rescue efforts, managing to retrieve several victims before emergency responders arrived. However, angered by the tragedy, locals set up a bonfire in protest against what they described as the government’s failure to repair the deplorable road.

Security operatives, including personnel from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), were deployed to the area to restore order and assist with rescue operations.

The spokesperson for the FRSC in Anambra State, Margaret Onabe, confirmed the accident, explaining that four adult males were involved. Two of the victims were rescued uninjured, while two others were confirmed dead upon arrival at the hospital.

“Upon receiving the distress call, our rescue team was dispatched to the scene in collaboration with the police to secure the area and ensure smooth traffic flow. The victims trapped under the trailer were recovered and taken to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead,” Onabe said.

She noted that both the tricycle and the trailer lacked registration numbers, and eyewitnesses attributed the crash to the poor state of the road. The FRSC used a towing van to lift the trailer and clear the wreckage, allowing normal traffic to resume.

The FRSC Sector Commander in Anambra State, Corps Commander Bridget Asekhauno, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and urged motorists to exercise caution and obey traffic regulations. She also commended the police for their swift response and cooperation during the rescue efforts.