A lawyer, simply identified as Okechukwu, was killed in a tragic road crash that occurred along the Awka area of the Awka-Enugu Expressway in Anambra State on Sunday night.
Our correspondent gathered that the lawyer died after his vehicle hit an abandoned articulated truck on the road and somersaulted into a nearby drainage.
A kinsman of the victim who identified him said the deceased had just deposited the remains of his late mother at the mortuary before the incident happened.
The kinsman, who pleaded anonymity, said, “The incident happened along the expressway along the Awka area. The deceased thought the truck was moving, but when he realised it wasn’t moving, it was too late as he hit it, and his car veered into the gutter.
“The lawyer had recently welcomed a newborn with his wife, whom he married in February. His sudden demise has left his loved ones in shock.
“He had just put his late mother in the mortuary and was preparing for the funeral. Now, he’s joined her in the mortuary. The incident serves as a stark reminder of life’s unpredictability and the importance of cherishing every moment.
“It was an avoidable death caused by allowing abandoned vehicles to stay on the road longer than necessary. The stationary vehicle was at a dangerous position on the road thereby posing a danger to other road users.”
It was gathered that the victim’s remains had been deposited at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, morgue after he was confirmed dead.
Other residents have criticised traffic officials including the Federal Road Safety Corps for allegedly allowing the abandoned truck to remain on the road longer than necessary without taking action to tow it away.
But reacting to the development, the Corps Commander, FRSC, Anambra State Command, Joyce Alexander, commiserated with the family members of the victim, praying God to comfort all of them and take care of the family he left behind.
Alexander said the abandoned truck could not be towed because of the load it was carrying, adding that she had directed the FRSC personnel to cordon off the scene with reflective tape.
She said, “I am aware that he ran into a broken-down stationary truck. Unfortunately, this happened in the night and the FRSC rescue team that went for the rescue operation could not ascertain from any eyewitness what really happened.
“It was not a tyre burst, as no tyre burst was observed. The only likely explanation is excessive speed which might have led to loss of control. We arrived at this conclusion because of the skid marks and yeo marks trailing on the crash scene.
“I have also visited the scene to confirm the marks and the apparent struggle with the steering before the vehicle eventually tumbled. I will like to point out here that the FRSC is not, and cannot be at every place.
“And that’s why we solicit the collaboration and assistance of so many groups and individuals, the media inclusive. That is also why we have the FRSC toll-free emergency number: 122.
We rely on every member of society to alert us on crashes and obstructions.”
He noted that because the truck could not be towed due to the load it was carrying, he had directed his staff to cordon off the scene with reflective tapes to warn oncoming traffic in the night, pending when the truck could be offloaded and towed in the morning.