A serious road traffic crash occurred on Saturday at the Nkpor New Auto Parts Bridge along the Onitsha-Awka Expressway when a 40-foot container-laden trailer plunged from the flyover and crashed into vehicles below, leaving two people with minor injuries.
According to preliminary reports from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Command, the incident happened around 1:00 p.m. The trailer, traveling from the Awka direction towards Onitsha, reportedly lost control believed to be due to brake failure veered off the bridge, and landed on the road beneath in a busy commercial area.
The fallen trailer impacted four other vehicles, including a Mercedes truck and two shuttle buses. A total of six male adults were involved in the crash. Two sustained minor injuries and were treated in hospital, while the remaining four escaped unhurt. No fatalities were recorded, an outcome described by officials and eyewitnesses as miraculous given the circumstances and the bustling market environment at the time.
Passengers in one of the affected buses reportedly jumped out just before the impact, helping to avert greater harm. The crash caused significant traffic disruption on the expressway as the wreckage blocked the road, but FRSC personnel quickly responded and cleared the scene.
FRSC officials have urged motorists to ensure their vehicles, especially heavy-duty trucks, are properly maintained, with particular emphasis on brake systems, and to avoid overspeeding. Investigations into the exact cause of the accident are ongoing.