By Ugochukwu Alaribe

ABA—Tragedy struck, yesterday, at a checkpoint mounted by police at Ogbor Hill Waterside Bridge, Aba, Abia State, when a truck’s brakes failed and it rammed into a commercial bus and tricycle, killing a driver and three passengers. Vanguard gathered that three passengers in the bus and driver of the tricycle died on the spot, while five other passengers, who sustained serious injuries, were taken to a nearby hospital.

Eyewitnesses claimed some policemen from the Eziama Division had mounted a checkpoint in the area, leading to a gridlock, which the truck ran into. Angered by the incident, a mob attacked the police team and vandalised their vehicle. A detachment of policemen was later deployed to the area to bring situation under control.

When Vanguard visited the scene of the crash, the police team, the truck and the crushed tricycle were still there. Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, Abia State Command, ASP Ogbonnaya Nta, who confirmed the incident, however, denied that it was caused by the checkpoint mounted by the Police.