By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—Five people were feared dead Saturday evening, following a ghastly road accident, which occurred at Azaraegbelu, along the ever busy Owerri-Mbaise-Umuahia federal highway.

Vanguard investigations revealed that a truck belonging to Julius Berger, with registration number, Abuja XL 400 ABC, allegedly lost control, skidded off its lane and rammed into an on-coming Honda Civic car, with registration number Lagos AP 979 AAA.

Men of the Imo State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) had a hectic time towing the truck away from the car, and removing the mangled bodies from the Honda Civic car, when our Correspondent visited the scene of the accident.

Speaking to Vanguard, the FRSC Sector Commander, Mr. Angus Ibezin, who personally supervised the rescue operation, confirmed that “ preliminary investigations into the horrifying accident revealed that the Julius Berger truck skidded off its lane, collided and climbed on top of the Honda Civic”.

Saying that six  people were involved in the accident, the Sector Commander also confirmed the one person died instantly at the scene, while four sustained life threatening injuries.

“We dragged out the Berger truck from the Honda with three tow trucks. We then butchered the  Honda vehicle, brought out the victims and rushed them to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, where they are receiving treatment”, Ibezim added.

He enjoined drivers to remain safety conscious while on the highway, stressing  that the carnage on Nigerian roads can be eliminated if all the traffic and safety regulations are strictly adhered to by all road users.