From Ijeoma John, Nnewi.
It was a black Friday in Nnewi, Anambra State following a fatal accident along Nnewi-Okigwe road near Nnewi Police Area Command where seven persons were feared dead and many injured.
The accident which happened around 6:00 pm involved a trailer fully loaded with bags of cement and was descending a hill from Oba axis called “Ugwuakpatiozu” where it lost control as a result of brake failure.
The trailer managed to run through the police checkpoint at the Area Command, hit a tiper long the road before it finally rammed into a residential building where casualties were recorded.
When our reporter visited the scene, eyewitnesses said seven casualties were already evacuated to the mortuary while others who were injured were rushed to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi and other private hospitals.
An eyewitness said a little girl within the scene of the incident was still missing as at the time of filling this report.
A senior police officer who spoke on anonymity said arrangements were being made to pull out the trailer to know if there are victims underneath.
The President, Anambra Tiper Drivers Suppliers Association, Mr Arinze Ulasi said the tiper and the driver that were hit near Area Command belonged to his association.
He said the tiper driver had been taken to a hospital.
Mr Ulasi said the roadblock on the expressway constituted traffic hazard for the drivers. He also advised that drivers under an accident situation along that axis should veer to a dumpsite which he said could stop the vehicle in motion.
Ulasi said casualties are always recorded, if the vehicle could not be controlled early.
One of the passers-by, Mr Ikenna Ogu also called for the removal of the roadblock at the Nnewi Area Command.
He contended that any roadblock should be five meters ahead bumps whether by Army, Police, or any other security agency.