Black Wednesday as trailer crushes 21 persons to death in Auchi, Edo

The death toll in the early morning tragedy at Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area has risen to over 21.

The accident happened Wednesday morning in Auchi headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State after a trailer conveying cement reportedly crashed into several shops in the city centre.

Sources at the Auchi office of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) had initially confirmed that six persons died in the tragedy while 16 were injured.

But an eye witness, Mr Sani Aliu faulted the FRSC account, insisting that there were many corpses at the scene of the accident.

Sani, a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said that he arrived at the new figure after more bodies were recovered from the rubbles of the shops and under the trailer.

“The scene was chaotic and looked like the site of a bomb blast. There were mangled corpses everywhere on the road when they were brought out from the buildings and under the truck,” he stated.

However, an official of the FRSC who pleaded anonymity said that the whereabouts of the driver and his motor boy is yet unknown after they immediately jumped out of the wreck and ran away when the accident occurred.

The FRSC source said that the ill-fated vehicle which was coming from the popular upgarage area of the polytechnic town was descending the hill when it suddenly had a brake failure and the driver lost control.

He said that he was in the company of friends at the nearby Inu Umoru street when he heard a thunderous bang.

He said that he was speechless when he got to the scene of the accident which is popularly referred to as Igbo Shade, adding that the vehicle smashed into many shops, killing several persons and destroying goods worth millions of naira.

He said that sympathizers have been battling for several hours in a desperate effort to pull out corpses from the rubbles of the collapsed buildings and under the chassis of the vehicle.

He disclosed that several persons who were injured in the morning fatal auto crash have been rushed to different hospitals in Auchi and neighbouring Jattu for treatment and are presently battling for their lives.

“Auchi is in deep mourning. Early this morning, the driver of a trailer conveying cement lost control as a result of brake failure and crashed into the popular Igbo Shade, killing several persons which included traders and buyers.

“Over 20 persons are feared dead and several are still trapped in the collapsed buildings. The sigh is gruesome. My heart bleeds,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, a PDP aspirant for Etsako Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Engr. Moses Omo-Ikirodah has sent his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in a tragic accident at Auchi in Edo State.

Omo-Ikirodah who was short of words over the horrific incidence condemned the despicable act of passersby who were seen making recordings and screaming without making an attempt to evacuate the injured for emergency treatment.

He urged the community youths to remain calm while calling on the relevant agencies to do all within their capacity to restore sanity.

He said: “Earlier today a fatal road accident occurred at Auchi, Edo State involving a trailer and multiple vehicles, no fewer than 21 persons were confirmed dead.

“I have been devasted since I heard of the unfortunate news of the ghastly motor accident and the loss of human lives.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims who lost their lives in the horrible accident.

“May God give them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss