Trailer crushes 18 travellers to death as bus driver parked at police checkpoint in Lokpanta Abia state

No fewer than 18 travellers were feared dead in a crash on the Umuahia-Enugu axis of the Port Harcourt/ Enugu Highway this morning.

It was gathered that the accident occurred at a police checkpoint around the Lokpanta area of Abia State in the wee hours of today, reports The Nation.

An 18-seater commercial bus was at the checkpoint awaiting police clearance when a truck driver lost control and rammed into them killing the driver and all the passengers.

Mr Bananas Okereke, an eyewitness, told our reporter on a telephone that the bodies of victims still littered the scene at 8:20 am.

He said: “The road is blocked by protesting bus drivers and other motorists who are asking that the policemen who caused the accident be brought back to the scene.”

“Colleagues of the bus driver and other road users have taken over the road, demanding Justice for the victims. They vowed to remain there until Governor Alex Otti visits the scene.”