Many people are feared dead, while about 18 others were affected in a multiple-vehicle accident involving a trailer loaded with granite stones at Tipper Garage Junction along the Dutse-Bwari Road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The accident, which occurred at about 5pm on Sunday, involved the granite-laden trailer, two other trailers, two Peugeot cars and two commercial tricycles, popularly known as Keke NAPEP.
An eyewitness said the trailer, which was descending from the Bwari axis, reportedly suffered brake failure around Usuma Dam before the driver lost control and rammed into several vehicles and bystanders along the road.
The trailer also crashed into the premises of the popular AYM Shafar Filling Station at Tipper Garage Junction, pulling down its gates and perimeter fence.
The collision left several vehicles badly damaged, with many people sustaining serious injuries, while others were feared dead.
Two victims were trapped inside one of the affected vehicles for more than two hours before they were rescued and rushed to the hospital at about 7:15pm by sympathisers who joined the rescue effort.
The rescue operation was reportedly hampered by the severity of the damage to the vehicles, leaving officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at the scene overwhelmed by the situation.
One of the victims, a female driver of an affected vehicle, reportedly had both legs severed in the accident.
Confirming the incident, a road safety official, Mr Victor John, said about 18 people were affected, while the exact number of fatalities remained unknown.
John, however, expressed fears that many of the victims might have died, considering the critical condition of some of them before they were evacuated to the hospital.
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Narrating his experience, he said he was around Police Signboard when the accident occurred and rushed to the scene after noticing dust rising into the air.
“I was coming to Tipper Garage. I was at Police Signboard when the accident happened. I saw the dust in the air, and that was why I rushed to the scene and saw the accident.
“By then, nobody was there to rescue anybody. But with the help of some people, I rushed some of the victims to the hospital. The state of two of them was pathetic, but only the doctor can confirm if they were still alive,” he said.
He further disclosed that the female driver of one of the affected cars had both legs cut off in the crash.
“We took the victims to Kubwa General Hospital. About 18 people were seriously injured, but the doctor would confirm those who survived,” he added.
The latest accident has renewed concerns over recurring trailer-related crashes at Tipper Garage Junction, a section of the Dutse-Bwari Road notorious for fatal accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles.
Residents of the FCT have consequently appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to urgently intervene and address the recurring accidents along the road.
They specifically called on the FCT Administration to stop trailers and other heavy-duty vehicles from plying the route, citing the frequency of accidents and the danger they pose to motorists, commercial transport operators, pedestrians and businesses along the corridor.
They also urged the authorities to consider alternative routes for heavy-duty vehicles and introduce effective safety measures to prevent further loss of lives and destruction of property.
The residents warned that unless urgent steps were taken to address the recurring accidents, Tipper Garage Junction could continue to witness avoidable tragedies.
