What was to be a pleasurable ‘hang out’ for a young lady and her male friend in ONNA Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, ended on a tragic note as they were both crushed to death.
Eye witnesses reported that the two lovers, identified as Clement and Patience, were reportedly rammed to death at Ikot Mbong community in ONNA Local Government Area, along Etinan-Ndon Eyo Road in Akwa Ibom State by a heavy duty truck driver at about 11pm on Tuesday.
According to eye-witnesses, Clement had gotten a casual job to protect a heavy duty tipper truck loaded with chippings which developed fault and had to be parked along the roadside.
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He then reportedly invited his girlfriend, Patience to hang out with him that fateful night and the young girl accepted accordingly. It was further learnt that Clement also invited another friend, a boy, to join him in protecting the truck.
According to them, while Clement and Patience stayed under the truck, the other boy stayed on top of the truck.
“And unknown to them, disaster was looming as another heavy duty truck rammed their vehicle, thrusting the truck and chippings with a loud bang,” one of the sources, who pleaded not to be named said.
The two lovers, according to the source, were watching video with one of their phones before the ugly incident.
He revealed that when he heard the bang, they quickly rushed to the scene of accident.
“Since it was late in the night and there is curfew; I, alongside three others, defied the odds to go and check what happened.
“I was in the room when I heard the terrible sound. I rushed out of the room to check what happened. We mobilized and went straight to the scene. What we saw was horrific.
“On seeing what happened, we tried to remove the boy and the girl and the motorbike that was trapped and crushed under the truck. But before we could rescue them, they had died,” he lamented.
According to him, during the rescue, they found the lady trapped in the rubble of the chippings. It was learnt that she passed away on the spot.
Another eye-witness, who simply gave his name as Enobong, confirmed that he was one of those who went for the rescue mission.
He said it was difficult to explain such an untimely death of two very young people, adding that the incident was avoidable.
“When we came for the rescue last night, the damage was already done. What we saw, which you have witnessed as well, is very sad.”
“I am really imagining why a young girl and a boy could take such an expensive risk by sleeping under a truck on the roadside which we gathered the male counterpart was contracted to secure. This is a big lesson for others to learn,” Enobong said tearfully.
However, the boy who stayed on top of the truck survived miraculously. The survivor, who was trailed by our correspondent to Mbioto II, revealed he was on top of the fatigued truck when the incident occurred, adding that the accident was an unimaginable one.
“I have to thank God for saving me. And I can’t explain what really went wrong.
“I was invited by my deceased friend to join him in protecting the truck against vandals but unfortunately it turned out this way. It is more than unexpected,” he sobbed and pleaded not to be named.
A resident in the area, Mr Johnny Daniel Nsekpong, who was seen trying to maintain normalcy at the scene of the incident, said the situation was horrifying during night time.
Nsekpong, who is the youth leader of Mbioto II community, lamented that the incident as it occurred in the night occasioned fruitless rescue mission.
According to sources, two deceased friends were natives of Mbioto II community in Etinan Local Government Area and Okat community in ONNA Local Government Area, respectively.
As at the time of going to press, the whereabouts of the driver of the truck, who caused the accident, remained unknown.
However, the Divisional Police Officer for ONNA, SP Prince Joshua confirmed the incident. The DPO said via phone call, that the incident was reported to his division.
According to him, his men had since evacuated the corpses.
