A fatal road accident at Tipper Garage Junction in Dutse, Abuja, on Tuesday morning claimed the life of a nursing mother who reportedly tried to save her baby when a truck ran out of control.
The incident, which occurred at about 9:30am, involved a fully loaded truck said to be coming from the Niger Republic axis.
Eyewitnesses said the vehicle, carrying items such as groundnut oil, plastic wares and mosquito repellents, suffered brake failure while navigating the steep descent from Usman Dam Road.
The truck was said to have sped downhill uncontrollably, hitting several vehicles in its path.
It allegedly collided with four vehicles before slamming into two commercial tricycles and a salon car stationed at the busy junction.
The deceased woman was inside one of the tricycles when the impact occurred.
She was confirmed dead at the scene, while her baby was pulled out alive from the mangled wreckage.
The salon car, which had four occupants, was badly crushed.
Two passengers reportedly escaped with injuries, while others sustained varying degrees of wounds.
In total, at least 11 persons were said to have been affected by the crash.
Bystanders and other commuters rushed to the scene, navigating spilled oil and debris to rescue trapped victims before emergency responders arrived.
Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps later took control of the scene and facilitated the evacuation of the injured.
The remains of the deceased were subsequently moved, along with those receiving treatment, to Kubwa General Hospital.
Residents have long expressed concerns over the hazardous nature of the slope leading to the junction, urging authorities to install clear warning signs and speed-reducing measures to forestall further loss of lives.
