Panic as truck rams into Anambra residential building
There was panic at No 161 Beverly Hills Estate, GRA in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Sunday, when a 40-foot truck with registration no Delta ASB 405YZ, laden with cement rammed into the building.
Although no life was lost in the incident, PUNCH Metro gathered that the driver lost control of the vehicle while navigating the hilly road and rammed into the residential building smashing two exotic cars, a perimeter fence gate, and pillars, among others.
Trouble was said to have started when the driver refused to heed the warning from the Chief Security Officer of the estate, who advised him to turn back that heavy-duty vehicles were prohibited from plying the estate due to the topographic nature of the environment.
A source who spoke to our correspondent in the estate on the condition of anonymity said, “As the driver insisted on continuing with his destination to where the cement would be off-loaded in an uncompleted building, he tried to negotiate his way, but the weight of the cement forced the vehicle to descend the hill immediately and in the process, it rammed into the residential building, smashing the two cars, perimeter fence gate, wall, and pillars of the house, among others.”
The landlord, Uche Adoga, a retired civil servant, said his family members were upstairs in the one-storey duplex when the incident occurred about 8 am on the fateful day.
Adoga said, “I was with my family upstairs when I heard a deafening noise and I became shocked. When I looked outside and saw that people had gathered, I went into a coma before regaining consciousness later.
“My two cars, including the one I newly bought and a Venzer jeep were all smashed by the truck. The truck rammed into the compound, smashed the fence gate, wall, pillars and many other items beyond recognition.
“The driver who is currently being detained at 3’3 police station, was said to be making calls when the incident happened and wanted to run away, but was held by sympathisers and some landlords.”
He narrated that the driver was taken to the police station where he was being detained and the truck had been towed to the police station with the help of the landlords who blamed the driver for not taking the advice given to him earlier not to ply the estate.
“The worst is that since the incident happened, the principal to the driver has not shown any concern by coming to ascertain the extent of destruction and discuss with me how to come out of the woods because we are human beings. He wants to frustrate me and my family,” he said.
When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of 3’3 Police Station, CSP Chukwunonso Onunkwo, was not on seat but a senior police officer, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the detention of the driver but declined further comment.
