Hundreds of motorists have been trapped in the gridlock induced by a 40-ft container truck that fell along the Mgbaemene end of the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway in Anambra State.
The PUNCH gathered that the driver was conveying the container to a destination in Onitsha Market when he lost control of the truck, causing it to fall on the road, leaving a narrow path for other motorists to ply.
The situation caused traffic which worsened because emergency responders abandoned the truck at the location since Thursday.
Discouraged by the situation on the road, commercial drivers were said to have been avoiding the axis, a development which made commuters stranded.
However, commercial drivers, who ply the axis to commute passengers to their destinations, reportedly increased the transport fare.
As of the time of filing this report on Sunday, the gridlock persisted as the truck was yet to be evacuated from the road.
During a visit to the scene to assess the situation on Sunday, our correspondent saw emergency responders, including naval officials, controlling the traffic on the expressway.
A commuter, who identified herself simply as Madam Chioma, said people had been suffering on the expressway since Thursday because of the container that fell on the road.
“It is a pity that for three days now, nothing has been done to remove it from the road. The rain that fell on Friday worsened the situation as it caused some sections to be muddy and forced commercial vehicles and tricycles to disembark their passengers halfway. People had to trek to their destinations,” she said.
Reacting, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who spoke anonymously to our correspondent as she was not authorised to speak regarding the matter, said the response team were waiting for the arrival of a crane.
She urged motorists to exercise restraint and comply with the directive of the response team.
