3 Dead, 4 Injured as Truck Crashes, Traps Occupants Before Exploding in Adazi-Ani

Three people have lost their lives while four others sustained serious injuries in a tragic lone road crash involving a commercial truck along the Nnobi–Agulu–Awka Road in Anambra State.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Sector Command, said the fatal accident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. on Friday near St. Jude Catholic Church in Adazi-Ani.

According to the Corps, the crash involved a Mercedes-Benz 608 commercial truck with registration number XB270NNL.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the vehicle developed a mechanical fault before bursting into flames. The driver reportedly lost control, causing the truck to ram into a roadside barricade and somersault.

The impact left some occupants trapped inside the vehicle as it became engulfed in flames.

In a statement issued by the Sector Public Education Officer, SRC Margaret B. Onabe, the FRSC disclosed that all seven occupants of the vehicle were adult males. Three of them died at the scene, while the remaining four suffered varying degrees of serious injuries.

The statement added that FRSC rescue personnel responded promptly after receiving a distress call at about 10:35 a.m. Officers secured the accident scene, diverted traffic to ease congestion and coordinated the evacuation of the burnt vehicle to restore the free flow of traffic.

Reacting to the tragedy, the Anambra State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Bridget Asekhauno, expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

She reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to ensuring swift emergency response and improving road safety across the state.

Asekhauno also urged motorists, particularly commercial vehicle operators, to carry out routine maintenance on their vehicles before embarking on any journey. She warned against transporting flammable materials under unsafe conditions, stressing that regular vehicle inspections remain essential in preventing avoidable road crashes caused by mechanical failure.