Tragedy struck late Wednesday night in Njaba Local Government of Imo State when a fatal auto crash claimed one life.
The accident which occurred at the popular Okwudor junction security checkpoint on the Orlu-Owerri road where the motorcyclist met his untimely death after SUV vehicle belonging to a Catholic priest rammed into his motorcycle.
Trumpeta was informed that the incident occurred at the sand barriers heaped on the road by security agencies for security checks on the road. It was learnt that the priest whose identity is still shrouded in secrecy was on his way from Orlu end heading to Owerri. On approaching the descending hill from the Nnenasaa end of the Orlu road, the priest may have not been aware of the sand barriers and drums as there were no indicators and shining reflexes to indicate the presence of the barriers to motorists. The sorry state of the cleric’s jeep showed that it hit the sand barriers, lost control and somersaulted several times before smashing the Okada rider. It was further learnt that the two victims were initially rescued by passers-by who rushed them to nearby Bethsaida Hospital in Njaba before the cyclist gave up yesterday morning while the priest was in critical condition. As at the time of this report, the wrinkled motorcycle and severely damaged vehicle still litter the road where the incident occurred as people gather to discuss the incident.
However, most of the motorists lamented the presence of sand barriers and drums stating that there were no reflective signs or gas fire to indicate the location of the check point in night.
