A tragic road accident claimed the life of a lawyer, identified as Okechukwu, along the Awka-Enugu Expressway in Anambra State on Sunday night. The accident occurred when Okechukwu’s vehicle collided with an abandoned articulated truck, causing his car to overturn and plunge into a nearby drainage.
According to a relative, Okechukwu had just returned from depositing his late mother’s remains at the mortuary when the fatal accident took place. The relative, speaking anonymously, explained that the lawyer mistook the stationary truck for a moving vehicle. By the time he realized it was immobile, it was too late, leading to the devastating crash.
The incident has left Okechukwu’s family and friends in deep shock, particularly because he had recently welcomed a newborn child with his wife, whom he married in February. He had been preparing for his mother’s funeral before the accident, making the tragedy even more heartbreaking. “He had just put his late mother in the mortuary and was preparing for her funeral. Now, he’s joined her,” the relative said, reflecting on the cruel twist of fate.
The accident has drawn criticism from local residents, who blame traffic officials for failing to remove the abandoned truck promptly. Many believe that the presence of the truck posed a serious danger to other road users, and the situation could have been avoided.
Following the incident, Okechukwu’s remains were taken to the morgue at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Awka.
In response to the public outcry, Joyce Alexander, the Anambra State Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), expressed her condolences to Okechukwu’s family. She explained that the truck could not be immediately towed due to the heavy load it was carrying. As a temporary measure, she had directed her team to cordon off the scene with reflective tape to alert other motorists.
Alexander further commented on the likely cause of the accident, suggesting that excessive speed and loss of control might have contributed to the crash. “We observed skid marks at the scene, which suggest a struggle with the steering before the vehicle eventually tumbled,” she noted.
She emphasized that while the FRSC is dedicated to road safety, the agency can’t be everywhere at once. “We rely on the public’s collaboration to alert us of crashes and road obstructions,” she added, reminding the public of the FRSC’s toll-free emergency number, 122.
Despite efforts to manage the situation, the delayed removal of the truck has fueled frustration among locals, who believe that swift action could have prevented the tragedy. The community continues to mourn Okechukwu’s untimely death, as calls for improved road safety measures grow louder.
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