THREE KILLED, FOUR INJURED AS TRUCK BURSTS INTO FLAMES IN ANAMBRA ROAD CRASH
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By ‘Sefiu Ajape
Three persons have been confirmed dead, while four others sustained serious injuries after a commercial truck crashed and caught fire near St. Jude Catholic Church, Adazi-Ani, along the Nnobi–Agulu–Awka Road in Anambra State.
The accident occurred at about 10 a.m. on Friday when the truck, conveying passengers to their various workplaces, reportedly suffered brake failure, crashed into a roadside barricade and somersaulted before bursting into flames.
Eyewitnesses said some of the occupants were trapped inside the vehicle as it was engulfed by fire, adding that community members and passersby immediately moved in to rescue those trapped before the arrival of emergency responders.
One eyewitness said, “The driver of the vehicle was descending the road when the vehicle failed brakes and he lost control, thereby plunging into the barricade, killing some people instantly and injuring others.
“The accident occurred at about 10am on Friday. The vehicle engulfed in flames while the victims were still trapped. Some of the community members and passersby did a first emergency response in evacuating the trapped victims before the arrival of transport officials at the scene.
“The road is very narrow and the absence of an alternative bridge that would allow vehicles ascending and descending the hilly stretch to use separate lanes is always causing traffic crashes along that corridor.”
Confirming the incident, the Sector Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Command, Margaret Onabe, said the crash involved a Mercedes-Benz 608 commercial truck with registration number XB270NNL.
Onabe said preliminary findings showed that the vehicle suffered a mechanical failure while in motion, causing the driver to lose control.
The statement read, “The Federal Road Safety Corps, Anambra State Sector Command, has confirmed a fatal lone road traffic crash that occurred on Friday, July 17, 2026, at about 10am near St. Jude Catholic Church, Adazi-Ani, along the Nnobi–Agulu–Awka Road.
“The crash involved a Mercedes-Benz 608 commercial truck with registration number XB270NNL. Preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle suffered a mechanical failure while in motion, caught fire, and the driver subsequently lost control.
“The truck crashed into a roadside barricade, somersaulted, and trapped some occupants as it became engulfed in flames. A total of seven male occupants were involved in the crash. Three persons lost their lives, while four others sustained serious injuries.
“FRSC rescue personnel received the distress call at 10:35am and arrived at the scene by 10:45am, recording a response time of 10 minutes.”
According to Onabe, FRSC officials immediately began traffic control measures, diverted vehicles to the opposite lane and made arrangements to remove the burnt truck from the roadway.
She added that the Sector Commander of the FRSC Anambra State Command, Corps Commander Bridget Asekhauno, sympathised with the families of the deceased and wished the injured victims a speedy recovery.
“She reiterated the Corps’ commitment to prompt emergency response and road safety enforcement across the state.
“The command advised motorists, particularly commercial vehicle operators, to ensure that their vehicles are mechanically sound before embarking on any journey.
“Drivers are also urged to avoid conveying flammable or hazardous materials inside passenger compartments or in unsafe conditions, and to carry out regular vehicle maintenance to prevent mechanical failures that could lead to devastating crashes.
“The FRSC remains committed to protecting lives and property on Nigerian roads and calls on Ndi Anambra to make safety their highest priority,” the statement added.
The incident comes less than two weeks after a fatal road crash claimed 10 lives and left six others injured at Saapade Bridge along the Ibadan–Lagos Expressway. The accident, which occurred on July 6, involved a white Sinotruk (CNHTC) truck and a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number EKY 290 YM.
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