Tragedy struck at the Agulu Lake axis of the Awka–Ekwulobia road Friday evening as scores of burial returnees reportedly lost their lives in a fatal truck accident that has once again drawn attention to the safety concerns surrounding the Agulu Lake bridge.
Eyewitness accounts said the victims were returning from a burial ceremony when the truck conveying them lost control while descending toward the narrow bridge and plunged into a devastating crash.
The exact number of casualties could not be immediately confirmed as emergency responders and sympathisers battled to rescue survivors and evacuate the dead.
The accident, which occurred near the Agulu Lake bridge constructed by past government, has reignited public criticism over the road’s structural design.
Motorists and residents have long complained that the transition from a dual carriageway into a single-lane bridge at the lake poses serious risks, particularly for heavy-duty vehicles navigating the steep gradient.
Some community members blamed the government for failing to construct a second bridge that would allow vehicles ascending and descending the hilly stretch to use separate lanes.
According to them, the absence of an alternative bridge creates a bottleneck that endangers commuters and has allegedly contributed to repeated accidents in the area.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity described the situation as “a disaster waiting to happen,” noting that vehicles often approach the bridge at speed from both directions before converging at the narrow crossing point.
“This has been a longstanding concern. We need urgent government intervention to prevent further loss of lives,” he said.
While officials were yet to issue a detailed statement as of press time, calls have intensified for the immediate construction of an additional bridge to ease traffic flow and enhance safety at the Agulu Lake corridor.
Emergency agencies were reportedly on ground managing the aftermath of the crash, as grieving families and sympathisers thronged the scene.
The incident adds to the growing list of road mishaps recorded along the busy stretch, underscoring renewed demands for infrastructural upgrades and stricter traffic safety measures to forestall future tragedies.
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