accident scene (not accident in story)


By Tony Icheku in Owerri


Six persons on Saturday night perished  at the Imo State University, Owerri, junction when an articulated vehicle lost control and rammed on vehicles and passersby.


The PUNCH correspondent, Chidiebube Okeoma who witnessed the incident and rushed the victims to the Federal Medical Centre in Owerri, disclosed that the incident happened around 7pm.


He explained that the heavy duty vehicle drove against the traffic and rammed on the commuter buses carrying people and was coming from the town to the Owerri - Okigwe lane of the road.


The vehicle smashed them on an electric pole nearby leading to the death of some of the victims.


Desperate efforts were made  to save the lives of the victims, as they were rushed  to nearby hospitals but there were no doctors on duty, and they were  rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Owerri for proper medical attention.


While one person on the spot, medical personnel confirmed five others dead on arrival  at FMC,  Owerri.


Among the victims is a lecturer at IMSU, identified as Dr. Nicholas Isinwa from the department of Marketing.


Medical personal are still battling to save the lives of others who were in coma.


Okeoma said " we took them to FMC after the nearby hospitals couldn't offer any help. The vehicle smashed them after it lost control at the IMSU junction. Unfortunately six persons have been confirmed dead while others were being attended to."


Okeoma urged  the State government to find a  permanent solution to perennial auto crashes that happen at the IMSU junction.


When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PORO   in the State, Henry Okoye, said that six persons died on the spot while others were being attended to at the FMC in Owerri.


credit: THISDAY