The Imo State Police Command confirmed on Sunday that six individuals were killed and several others injured in a tragic accident involving a truck at the Imo State University (IMSU) junction on Saturday night.
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Henry Okoye, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), disclosed the details to newsmen in Owerri. According to the police’s preliminary investigation, the driver of a Mack Truck, registered KWL 857 YE, allegedly lost control and veered into the wrong lane, colliding with four minibuses and causing multiple injuries.
“Following information received from a concerned citizen on 18/05/2024, at about 1745hrs, regarding a fatal motor accident involving a Mack Truck and four minibuses at IMSU Junction along Okigwe road, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, promptly mobilized operatives from Orji Divisional Headquarters and the State Traffic Department to the scene,” Okoye explained.
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Upon arrival, police operatives, with the help of public-spirited individuals, evacuated the victims to the Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Owerri. Unfortunately, six victims were declared dead on arrival, while efforts were made to treat the injured.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the truck driver, heading towards IMSU Junction from Orji along Okigwe road, lost control and ran over four shuttle minibuses and several pedestrians. The accident left many seriously injured. Police have documented the scene with photographs and sketches, and cleared the vehicles to facilitate traffic flow. The deceased victims’ bodies have been deposited at the FMC mortuary.
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Efforts are ongoing to contact the families of the deceased and injured victims. The police are also working to apprehend the truck driver, who fled the scene immediately after the accident. Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma expressed condolences to the victims’ families and prayed for the souls of the deceased and a quick recovery for the injured. He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to apprehend the fleeing driver and urged road users to drive responsibly and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy to prevent such accidents.
Reacting to the incident, Imo State’s Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation, and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, conveyed Governor Hope Uzodinma’s deep sadness over the loss of lives. The governor directed an immediate response, including security agencies assisting in transporting the injured to hospitals and the deceased to the mortuary. He also tasked the State Commissioner for Health with ensuring adequate medical attention for those hospitalized.
Governor Uzodinma has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the accident to identify and prosecute those responsible. He expressed regret over the avoidable loss of lives, particularly those of innocent students, and assured that measures would be implemented to prevent such tragedies in the future.
