The Imo State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the truck driver involved in a devastating accident that claimed about several lives and left several others injured in Owerri, the state capital.
The accident occurred on Saturday night at the Imo State University (IMSU) junction when a truck ran into four shuttle buses due to a brake failure.
According to Henry Okoye, police spokesperson in Imo, the operatives responded swiftly to the scene upon receiving information about the accident.
Okoye stated that the command has made efforts to contact the families of the deceased, who have been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.
He stated that the operatives, with the support of good-spirited individuals, also took the injured victims to the hospital for treatment.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the driver of the Mack truck with registration number KWL 857 YE lost control of the vehicle and diverted onto the one-way lane, where it ran over four shuttle minibuses and some pedestrians, leaving many seriously injured.
“Photographs and sketches of the accident scene have been taken, and the accidental vehicles have been cleared off the road to ensure easy flow of traffic.
He stated that the corpses of the deceased victims have been deposited at the FMC mortuary for preservation, while efforts are in progress to contact the families of the deceased and injured victims and apprehend the fleeing driver.
According to him, Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma has ordered an investigation into the cause of the accident, urging road users to always drive responsibly and check the roadworthiness of their vehicles