A tragic accident on Monday afternoon at the Udu Bridge in Delta State left six people dead and several others injured when a truck rammed into a broken-down trailer. The collision, caused by a brake failure and the careless movement of a commercial tricycle rider, sparked chaos on the usually busy route.
Eyewitnesses reported that the speeding truck, said to belong to construction giant Julius Berger, swerved in an attempt to avoid a moving tricycle. In the process, it slammed into the stationary trailer loaded with electric poles. A mechanic working beneath the trailer at the time was crushed instantly as the force of the crash toppled the trailer onto him.
The impact also destroyed three moving tricycles, trapping and killing more passengers. The horrifying scene brought traffic to a halt, with a full roadblock that left drivers, traders, students, and workers stranded for hours. Many commuters had to abandon their vehicles and continue their journeys on foot as emergency teams struggled to gain access.
Though the final death toll has yet to be officially confirmed, six lifeless bodies had been removed from the wreckage by the time of this report. Chairman of Udu Local Government Area, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, arrived at the scene and coordinated rescue efforts, including the removal of the damaged truck and trailer. Despite the clearance progress, the road remained closed well into the evening, worsening the gridlock.
