A heavy-duty trailer loaded with iron rods, on Thursday, crashed into the perimeter fence of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, after reportedly losing compression while climbing a hill along the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Expressway in Abia State.
The accident, which occurred at about 2:00 a.m. near Finbarrs Road and close to the Abia State High Court, left part of the busy federal highway obstructed and triggered a major traffic gridlock during the morning rush hour.
Speaking on the incident, the trailer driver, who declined to disclose his identity, said the vehicle developed a mechanical fault while ascending the hill.
According to him, “The trailer lost compression while climbing the hill and started rolling backwards uncontrollably before crashing into the fence of the Federal Medical Centre.”
The impact damaged a section of the hospital’s perimeter fence, while the trailer came to a halt partially blocking the expressway.
Motorists and commuters experienced significant delays as vehicles struggled to navigate the affected section of the road, resulting in heavy congestion along the route.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation of casualties or injuries arising from the incident.
Efforts were ongoing by relevant authorities to evacuate the trailer and restore the free flow of traffic on the highway.
Further details are expected as authorities continue investigations into the cause of the accident.
