IGBOZURUOKE FORUM

Charred remains of about 20 victims of the crash which occurred on Friday at the Okwudor axis of the Njaba Bridge in Imo State have been buried in a mass grave. The mass burial decided on almost 24 hours after the accident, when it was established that it was impossible to identify any of the victims and contact their family members to take their remains. Accordingly, a big grave was dug and the remains of the victims were buried in the presence of officials of relevant agencies.

The accident had involved two 18-seater buses and a diesel tanker which erupted into flames on impact with the loaded buses. When the flames died down, about 30 persons were feared to have been burnt to death before any help could get to the accident scene. Governor Rochas Okorocha has since sent his condolence message to the people of Imo State and the affected families of the victims.

A statement signed by the governor’s spokesman, Sam Onwuemeodo, said that “government deeply regrets the fatal accident that occurred at Njaba Bridge along Orlu Road on Friday when the driver of a tanker carrying diesel lost control, as a result of brake failure and crashed into a bus loaded with passengers, and caught fire. All the passengers in the bus were reported to have lost their lives in the inferno”.

Okorocha also warned drivers, especially those driving trucks to always service their vehicles before putting them on the road. He said: “The accident in question that had claimed lives would have been averted if the driver of the tanker, who also lost his life in the incident, had put the brake of the lorry in order.” The governor also advised that since the Yuletide is almost here, drivers and other road users should always pray and exercise caution while on the road.

Newtelegraph