By our Reporter
Imo State Police Command has confirmed that no fewer than eight people were killed in the road accident that occurred on Tuesday.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident to newsmen on the phone, saying that several others were injured in the accident.
Okoye said the accident which involved a heavy-duty truck and an 18-seater bus, occurred along Owerri-Umuaka-Okwudor-Orlu Road, specifically in Ugwu Njaba in the Njaba Local Government Area of the state.
He said, “Preliminary investigation showed that the truck which was descending from the hill lost control because the driver was on high speed and it crushed an 18-seater bus, killing no less than eight people while several others were injured.
“The corpses of those who died in the accident have been evacuated and deposited in a mortuary while those who were injured have been taken to hospital.
“Investigation is ongoing and the truck driver will be made to face the law for his reckless driving that has taken the lives of those innocent people.”
According to the police, some of the injured persons are in critical condition. He noted that the casualty figures would be confirmed on Wednesday.
Rescuers faced a daunting challenge evacuating victims from a severely damaged bus after the devastating accident. Videos circulating on social media reveal the bus’s catastrophic condition, beyond recognition from the impact. The footage shows emergency responders struggling to free those trapped inside.