By AT least six persons were feared dead on Monday afternoon in a fatal accident atop the ever-busy Udu Bridge, when a Julius Berger truck rammed into a broken-down trailer, triggering a chain of deadly collisions.
The tragic incident, which left several others injured, was reportedly caused by brake failure and the recklessness of a commercial tricycle (Keke) rider, according to eyewitness accounts.
Crowd of sympathisers at the scene of the accident
Among the deceased was a mechanic working beneath the faulty trailer, which was laden with electric poles.
Eyewitnesses narrated that the Julius Berger truck, in an attempt to avoid hitting an oncoming tricycle, veered and collided with the stationary trailer.
The accident scene
The force of the impact caused the trailer to collapse, crushing the mechanic and three moving tricycles filled with passengers.
The carnage led to a total blockade of the bridge, throwing commuters into chaos and causing a traffic snarl that stretched for hours.
Mr Oyibode at the scene of the accident
Motorists, students, and traders en route to Warri and its environs were forced to abandon vehicles and continue their journeys on foot as emergency personnel struggled to reach the site.
By the time of filing this report, the exact casualty figure had yet to be confirmed, though six lifeless bodies had been recovered.
Udu Local Government Chairman, Mr Vincent Oyibode, promptly abandoned his official schedule to personally lead rescue operations at the scene.
His swift intervention facilitated the removal of the trailer and the truck, although the road remained closed as clearance efforts continued late into the evening.
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