A heavy-duty truck conveying cartons of beer crashed into a construction pit at the Vanco Junction flyover site in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Wednesday. The truck, with registration number Enugu FST978ST, was fully loaded with small stout beer and fell into the pit at the ongoing construction site. The driver, identified as Mr. Benjamin Joseph, narrowly escaped death in the incident.
Speaking with journalists, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Lebechi Mbam, expressed dismay over the repeated disobedience to government directives banning vehicular movement at the flyover site. He condemned the act, describing it as unfortunate and a result of crass ineptitude on the part of the driver, who ignored alternative routes and instead took the barricaded path, which led to the accident.
Engr. Mbam, who visited the scene, thanked God that no life was lost. He confirmed that instructions had been given to site workers to assist in recovering the truck and salvaging the remaining goods. He warned motorists to desist from using the construction site in order to prevent further accidents and safeguard lives, emphasizing that the government is committed to completing the flyover project on time.
The owner of the goods, Mr. Ugochukwu Lazarus, who is the director of Unique Laz And Sera for Life, appreciated the intervention of the Commissioner for Works. He acknowledged the efforts made to ensure the rescue of the goods and the vehicle from the construction pit. The driver, Mr. Benjamin Joseph, who said it was his first time in Abakaliki, lamented the huge loss of the goods and the damage to the lorry. He appealed for support from well-meaning individuals to help him recover from the incident.
