By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
About 15 soldiers almost met thier waterloo when a truck they board while on their way back to base in one of the barracks in Cross River North senatorial district of the state crashed into a stationary Sienna bus, parked in one of the car stands around Beebosco Bus Stop in Calabar metropolis on Friday evening.
The soldiers, who were returning from a sporting activity which they participated at the 13 Brigade Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Akim Barracks, were involved in the crash when their truck went too close to some cars which slowed down as a result of a speed breaker.
The truck driver, in apparent attempt to avoid hitting the cars, applied the brakes to halt the truck, but due to the heavy downpour and poor visibility and slippery nature of the tarred road, occasioned by the run off water, the military truck swerved, lost control and almost emptied the entire passengers made up of soldiers, including female soldiers into the deep gutter at the Beebosco.
The military truck staggered and knocked a stationary Sienna bus on display for sale at the car stand, destroying it completely.
An eye witness, Mr. Charles Akpang told CompassNG that the truck driver crashed after the driver approached other moving vehicles that were also plying the road, in a attempt to stop the moving truck, he applied the breaks, but unfortunately the truck swerved and hit the stationary Sienna bus that was parked in one of the car stands smashing the Sienna bus beyond repair.
He said, “The accident occurred due to the poor weather occasioned by the heavy downpour that made the truck driver to lose his visibility and knocked the stationary vehicle.”
Four of the soldiers, who were on admission at the Navy Reference Hospital, are said to be in critical condition, while five females sustained various degree of injuries on their knees, ankles and heads.
Reacting to the incident, the car dealer, Mr. Emmanuel Ekpeta, stressed that he is very angry that the Sienna bus, which he kept for sale is badly damaged.
“The Sienna was a saving grace, otherwise the truck would have ended inside the drain which takes water into the Beebosco water channel and that would have been a major tragedy.”
The car dealer maintained that the ground was slippery and visibility was poor due to the heavy downpour in the city, a situation which he said probably caused the truck driver not to see far, though he ought to have been more careful
The eye witness further said, “The soldiers who crashed into the gutter are the ones most affected, because they suffered broken skulls and various injuries. They were taken out of the drain unconscious and drenched in blood.”
Reacting to the incident, owner of the Sienna bus, Mr. John Elu, states that he kept the car for sale only for the car to be damaged beyond repairs.
Elu called on the military authority to assist him by replacing his vehicle as he had intended using the proceeds of the bus to solve urgent pressing problem which had almost weigh him down.
He said, “I brought it to this car stand some days ago for sale and this is my source of livelihood. The army should please help me by replacing my bus, because as you can see, the vehicle is completely destroyed.”
Our reporter learnt that some of the soldiers had been moved to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for further medical examination and attention.
However the Army Public Relations Officer, APRO, Capt. Dorcas Aluko, who confirmed the incident stated that the accident happened while the soldiers were going back to Cross River North, after attending a sports event in Calabar.
“It was an accident caused by heavy downpour of yesterday. I don’t know why some persons are saying the driver was drunk. It’s a lie, he didn’t drink. Anybody can have an accident.
“The accident victims are recuperating. They are fine and being attended to at the Navy Reference Hospital.”
