A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday as a yet-to-be-identified truck driver allegedly crushed Abia State Polytechnic, Aba graduate, Miss Mary Ogechi, to death at the Aba-Owerri Road. The deceased had recently graduated and celebrated her achievement on social media for emerging the best accounting student in her department. She was on her way to process her results at the school to prepare for the National Youth Service Corps mobilisation when the accident occurred.
Eyewitnesses reported that the deceased suffered fractured legs and a dislocated hip after being pushed down by a commercial tricycle rider and subsequently run over by a trailer. The tricycle rider fled the scene, while the truck driver abandoned his vehicle and sought refuge in a nearby police station in the Aba North Local Government Area.
Despite efforts by some courageous individuals to rush her to the hospital for urgent medical attention, she later succumbed to her injuries and passed away.
Following the news of her passing, students of the school staged a protest and blocked the expressway. They expressed their grievances, claiming they had previously informed the government to build a bump on the road as a safety measure against reckless drivers who had repeatedly caused accidents involving staff and students of the school.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Chinaka Maureen, stated that the driver was in custody and the vehicle had been recovered. She assured that an investigation was ongoing.
Family members and friends of the deceased mourned her passing on social media, describing her as a person of high character. The tragic event has left many devastated, as they remember her promising future and the struggles she endured to achieve her goals.
The Rapid Response Squad intervened to prevent further violence as some students threatened to set the trailer ablaze. The situation has been calmed down, but the students’ demands for improved safety measures on the road remain unresolved.
The driver’s identity has not been disclosed, and further developments in the investigation are awaited.
