It was a miracle for residents and passersby of Itu Road Junction as scores narrowly escaped death after a ghastly auto accident involving a truck and a tricycle wrecked havoc at Calabar-Itu Highway.
The incident occurred around 3 pm on Wednesday, 8th July, 2020.
Eye-witness account has it that the truck dashed into shops along the road after trying to dodge a Toyota Camry saloon car driving “one way”.
The marked truck, with inscription: Marold Campbell Trucking Incorporated, KAHOKA, Mo, US DOT 600095, ICC 29052, IL112086MC, IA 600095, MOT-73630, G.V.W. 60,000, was said to have lost control, hit the walkway and busted one of its front tyres in the process, before smashing a tricycle that had just dropped passengers at the junction.
Although no life was confirmed loost as at the time of filing in this report, the tricycle rider and at least a passenger were feared critically injured and was rushed to the hospital by passersby officers of Federal Road Safety Corps, Uyo.
The ‘keke’ rider, identified as a ‘ticket man who normally stands by Abak Road, had his MOT Registration Number as MOT/A/T/03933/UYO, with his “Transporters for Udom” Face Cap still hanging on his already crushed keke as at the time Morenews visited the accident scene shortly after it occurred.
Among the worst hit shops were those selling foodstuffs and electrical appliances as well as hair dressing saloon, whose owners were seen struggling to savage what were left after the truck wrecked the havoc.
Vehicular traffic was almost brought to a stand-still as a result of the number of sympathisers who trooped to the accident scene but men and officers of Nigerian police as well as Federal Road Safety Corps were on hand to arrest the situation.
As at 7 pm, when rescue team was trying to pull the truck out of the shops, people were stll found in large number at the scene of the accident, some with their two hands on their head while others were standing akimbo.
