By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—No fewer than three persons, including a 13-year-old banana hawker, were reported dead, while more than nine others sustained varying degrees of injuries in two separate road crashes in Imo State, weekend.

At Irete, Owerri West council, a 70-year-old man, identified as Elder Ndukwu Nlemadim, and his seven-year-old granddaughter, were reportedly crushed by a bus of a popular transport firm.

Villagers told Vanguard that they were on their way to Sunday service when the vehicle hit them at top speed.

A villager said: “Elder Ndukwu, who was fondly called Uwankaa and his granddaughter died instantly. The two corpses have been deposited in one of the hospitals in Owerri, while the driver of the vehicle reported himself to Ogbaku, the nearest police station.”

The second accident took place at Umuaka, Njaba council, where a Toyota Hiace bus belonging to another transport firm, crushed a 13-year-old female hawker.

A villager, who narrated the incident to Vanguard, recalled that the deceased, who was said to be a native of Umuezikeukwu Ukuama, was hawking banana and oranges.

The villager also recalled that the vehicle with number plate UBT 288 XA, knocked down a commercial motorcyclist, who was probably waiting for passengers.