TRAGEDY occurred in Swali area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Saturday after a trailer rammed into a roadside market, killing one person and injuring seven others.
The incident happened a day after The Nation in a special report sounded a warning on dangers posed by roadside markets in Yenagoa and called on the government to relocate them.
The trailer, with number plate, XY 259 FST, also destroyed four tricycles and goods on display at the market.
The list obtained by our correspondent from security agents at the scene of the accident showed three male adults, three female adults and two female children, were the casualties.
The names of casualties according to the list are, Chigozie Chukwu, 26; Ogadinma Chukwu, female; Juliet Emmanuel, female; and Alao Abule.
Others are Eyo Edem Okon, male, 27; Chinyere Uzoma, female, 42; Lawrence Okon; and Ade Emmanuel, female.
Bystanders, market women and men as well as sympathisers were seen crying and discussing the unfortunate accident.
The trailer, carrying an excavator, was descending the Swali Bridge when the accident occurred.
It was gathered that the accident occurred when the unidentified driver lost control of the heavy-duty truck because of brake failure.
Eyewitnesses said the driver escaped immediately the accident happened.
Sunday said that the driver of the vehicle was coming on top speed as if he was being pursued.
Inatimi said the dead victim of the crash, whose name was given as Edem Okon, was dragged by the vehicle more than 100 metres before the driver eventually rammed into the market.
He said many people would have died if not that most of the traders saw the danger and took to their heels.
He said: “It was a gory accident. We saw the trailer from afar coming in top speed. The driver was driving as if he was drunk or he was being pursued by someone.
“In my very eyes, the driver descending from the bridge suddenly lost control of control of the trailer, swerved from the road and rammed into the traders. The tricycle operators were a bit fortunate that they saw the vehicles in time and ran for their dear lives.
“However, the tricycles were grounded by the trailer. If the drivers were inside when the accident occurred, there is no how they could have survived the accident.
“As I speak to you, the survival of the seven injured traders is doubtful. But we have it on good authority that the first victim (Okon) died while being rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa. “
When contacted, the Sector Commander, Bayelsa State, Mr. Vincent Jack, told our correspondent that the crash was due to brake failure.
Jack said some of his officers and men were detailed to the accident scene as soon as they report of the crash.
He confirmed that one person died in the accident while seven persons were critically injured.
He said the dead and injured victims were taken to Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.
He gave the number plates of the two destroyed tricycles, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, as BALAJ RE 205 and AWD 30 QA.
...culled from THE NATION
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