By Sunny A. David, Onitsha
Three of the victims involved in the tanker accident which occurred at Upper Iweka axis of Onitsha last week have been discharged with four others still receiving treatment.
Our correspondent was at Toronto Hospital where the victims were admitted and reports that the survivors of the accident admitted at Toronto Hospital were responding to treatment as confirmed by the Manager Toronto Hospital Mr. Osy Mbelu and a doctor at the hospital Dr. Bosah Aduba.
In an interview, they said among the seventeen person brought to the hospital, Eight were dead on arrival, two were lost within the week as they sustained serious injury from the accident leaving seven alive.
Among the seven survivors three has been discharged while four are still at the hospital receiving treatment.
Speaking to our correspondent one of the survivors Mr. Clement Jackson said he was coming from Imo state and was about boarding KEKE to his destination when it happened.
He said he broke his leg in attempt to escape from the tanker which has already crushed the KEKE he was in.
On his part, a relation to one of the victims Mr Damian Agwunwa said his sister, Mrs. Lilian Nwankwor was hawking cashew along the Upper Iweka axis where the incident occurred.
He expressed gratitude to God for sparing the live of his sister as well as the hospital management for the efficient medical care.
However the ugly incident that claimed several lives leaving many others injured has forced petty traders along Upper Iweka axis to have a rethink on road side trading which the state government frowns at.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command have arrested the driver of a tanker carrying kerosene, who lost control of his vehicle in Onitsha around Upper Iweka area, killing about seven person, while injuring 12 others.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the state Mr. Haruna Mohammed (SP), in a press release made available to journalists in Awka, said the driver, a 35-year-old man named Junior Agari, was arrested with the truck confiscated.
Said he: “There was a fatal Motor accident involving a Mack tanker with Reg No EFF81XA loaded with kerosene and driven by one Junior Agari ‘m’ aged about 35 years of No 7, Williams Street Aka Avenue Efurum, Delta State.
“Suspect has been arrested, while the truck was recovered and obstruction cleared to enable free flow of traffic in the area. Meanwhile, case is under investigation to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident,” Mr. Haruna stated.
He added that victims were rushed to a hospital in Onitsha and that while seven persons comprising of six males and a female were confirmed death and deposited in the mortuary, 12 others who sustained injury were receiving treatment in the hospital.
