Truck Loses Control, Rams Into Motorcycle Workshop, Killing Six Persons, Injuring Dozens

By Ibrahim Abubakar

Six persons have been killed after a truck, conveying laterite sand lost control and rammed into a motorcycle mechanic workshop, in Adamawa state.

Eyewitnesses told newsmen that the truck, also known as articulated vehicle, veered off the road after a tyre burst at the Viniklang junction, near the Jimeta bridge on the outskirts of Yola, the capital city.

Among those killed was a traffic police officer on duty at the busy junction.

“Isa Usman, a traffic control police officer was the first casualty, the truck hit and smashed his remains before it rammed into the mechanics,” an eyewitness, Talatu Addison told our correspondent.

Another eyewitness, Drambi Ezra said, “it was like a horror scene to see the truck crushing mechanics while working on vehicles.

“I personally counted six crushed bodies on the spot. We evacuated the remains of their bodies into a police van,” he said.

The driver of the truck was said to have escaped and abandoned his vehicle, sparking outrage, as irate youths set the truck ablaze. The fire spread from the vehicle, razing many shops and destroyed an electricity transformer.

As at the time our correspondent arrived the scene, a combined team of policemen, Road Safety marshals, firefighters and Red Cross officials were busy evacuating dead bodies and the injured.

Spokesperson for the police in Adamawa state, SP Suleiman Nguroje has confirmed the accident, saying, “one police officer from the Motor Transport Department, Isa Usman and five others have now been confirmed dead.”