In a heart-wrenching incident that underscores the unpredictability of life, a lawyer known only as Okechukwu was killed in a devastating road accident on the Awka-Enugu Expressway in Anambra State on Sunday night. This tragic event occurred shortly after he had deposited the remains of his late mother in a mortuary, leaving his family and community in profound shock and grief.
According to eyewitness accounts and reports from our correspondent, Okechukwu’s vehicle collided with an abandoned articulated truck that was left stationary on the road. The force of the impact caused his car to somersault off the road and into a nearby drainage ditch. A relative of the deceased, who preferred to remain anonymous, revealed that the accident unfolded as Okechukwu misjudged the status of the truck, initially believing it to be in motion. “He thought the truck was moving, but when he realized it wasn’t, it was too late. He hit it, and his car veered into the gutter,” the relative explained.
The tragedy is compounded by the fact that Okechukwu had recently celebrated the arrival of a newborn child with his wife, whom he had married earlier this year in February. His sudden passing raises urgent concerns about road safety and the presence of abandoned vehicles, which pose significant hazards to drivers and pedestrians alike. The relative lamented, “This incident serves as a stark reminder of life’s unpredictability and the importance of cherishing every moment. It was an avoidable death caused by the negligence of allowing abandoned vehicles to remain on the road.”
Following the accident, Okechukwu’s body was transferred to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Amaku, Awka, where it was officially pronounced dead. The community’s outrage has been palpable, with many residents criticizing local traffic authorities, particularly the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), for their inaction regarding the abandoned truck that ultimately contributed to this fatal incident.
In response to the growing concerns and criticisms, Joyce Alexander, the Corps Commander of the FRSC in Anambra State, expressed her condolences to Okechukwu’s family and emphasized the serious nature of the situation. She stated that the abandoned truck could not be towed away due to the heavy load it was carrying at the time of the accident. “I am aware that he ran into a broken-down stationary truck. Unfortunately, this happened at night, and the FRSC rescue team was unable to gather eyewitness accounts about what transpired,” Alexander noted.
The FRSC Commander also clarified that preliminary investigations did not indicate a tire burst as a factor in the accident. Instead, she suggested that excessive speed may have played a role, as evidenced by the skid marks at the crash site. “I have visited the scene to confirm the marks and the apparent struggle with the steering before the vehicle ultimately tumbled,” she added.
To prevent further accidents, Alexander announced that she had instructed her staff to cordon off the area surrounding the abandoned truck with reflective tape to alert oncoming traffic until the vehicle could be safely towed away. She reiterated the importance of community involvement in reporting accidents and road obstructions, stating, “The FRSC is not, and cannot be, everywhere at once. We rely on the support of the public and the media to keep our roads safe. That’s why we have the FRSC toll-free emergency number: 122.”
This tragic incident serves as a poignant reminder of the critical need for better road safety measures and the prompt removal of abandoned vehicles, which can lead to unnecessary loss of life. Okechukwu’s untimely death not only robs his family of a loved one but also highlights the broader implications of road safety awareness within the community.
As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of a promising lawyer who had just begun to build a family and a future. The profound sadness felt by his relatives and friends is a testament to the impact of this avoidable tragedy.
