At least five people have reportedly died in an accident involving a Coaster bus from the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Renewal Movement and a tipper truck in Imo State.
The collision occurred on Friday morning, leading to significant traffic congestion on the busy Owerri-Onitsha Road.
Both vehicles, traveling in the same direction, collided and crashed into a Coca-Cola shop at Orogwe in the Owerri West Local Government Area.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that five individuals died instantly and were transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital.
They said some other people were still stuck beneath the bus.
One of the eyewitnesses, however, said three workers at the depot were among the deceased.
The eyewitness said, “The accident is between a long coaster bus carrying members of the Lord’s Chosen, and a tipper. The two vehicles were coming from Onitsha to Owerri but the coaster bus, in an effort to overtake the tipper, now hit it by the side and immediately lost control.
“The driver tried to control the steering but it ran into a Coca-Cola depot where over ten of its staff members were knocked down by the vehicle.
“When people gathered and started pulling victims out from the car, we discovered that three of the Coca-Cola staff members died on the spot. Others were badly injured.
“The tipper driver and his conductor also died. The conductor was forcefully pulled out of the back of the tipper and the moving tipper climbed on him. The driver also hit his chest on the steering and bled to death. It was a horrible accident.”
A resident of Orogwe community who spoke on condition of anonymity said none of the Lord’s Chosen members died, but some sustained varying degrees of injury.
“It was actually the Lord’s Chosen’s driver’s fault. He wanted to overtake the tipper without considering the narrowness of the road. As I speak, so many people are still stacked under the Lord’s Chosen’s vehicle.
“We have tried to pull the vehicle out to no avail. We have used a heavy-duty vehicle to pull it out to see if there are some people under it, no way.”
Efforts to speak with personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) who were at the scene of the incident proved abortive as they declined to speak on the issue.
Beyond the immediate impact on the victims and their families, the ripple effects of the accident are felt far and wide, reverberating through the community and sparking conversations about road safety, vehicle maintenance, and the need for greater vigilance on the part of all road users. In the wake of this tragedy, there is a renewed sense of urgency to address systemic issues that contribute to road accidents and prevent future loss of life.
Amidst the grief and sorrow, there is also an outpouring of support and solidarity from individuals and organizations rallying around the affected families, offering comfort, assistance, and solidarity in their time of need. From financial contributions to emotional support, the community comes together to mourn collectively and support those grappling with unimaginable loss.
As the healing process begins and the community mourns the lives lost, there is a collective resolve to honor their memory by advocating for safer roads, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, and greater awareness of the importance of road safety. While the scars of this tragedy may never fully heal, there is hope that through unity, compassion, and concerted action, we can work towards a future where such senseless loss of life becomes a thing of the past.
