In a devastating incident that shook the Mpape area near the Maitama District of Abuja, a tragic accident unfolded as a tipper carrying sharp sand experienced a catastrophic brake failure. The horrifying event, which took place on a fateful Thursday around 4 p.m., left at least eight people dead, including students.
Eyewitnesses at the scene described the harrowing incident as the tipper truck careened into tricycles, commonly referred to as Keke, and other vehicles. The impact of the collision resulted in the loss of numerous lives, with eight casualties confirmed, according to Mustapha Aminu, an eyewitness.
Aminu recounted the terrifying sequence of events, revealing that the driver, upon realizing the devastation he had caused, fled the scene with the assistance of a motorcycle. He pointed out that the incident was made even more tragic by the fact that no warning signals, such as a blaring horn, were heard from the truck before the collision.
He suggested that the accident’s initial cause might have been a burst tire, which led to the truck losing control. Had a warning been issued, Aminu believed that more lives could have been spared.
The aftermath of the accident was a grim scene, with over seven Keke vehicles and several cars severely affected. Tragically, two students who were traveling in one of the tricycles lost their lives instantly.
Chorrie Mutaa, the Sector Commander of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), confirmed the incident, revealing that their rescue team had recovered five deceased bodies and attended to ten injured individuals. The accident involved a total of 13 vehicles, including the ill-fated truck responsible for the collision, and even a motorcycle.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for vigilant maintenance of vehicles to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families affected by this tragic accident.
