A moving training coming from Port Harcourt to Aba on Wednesday crashed on a sienna vehicle at Factory Road railroad crossing, living many eyewitnesses in fear.
The incident which occurred a few metres away from the Aba Train Station caused a serious panic, as eyewitnesses feared for the life of the driver who miraculously survived.
Obioha Uzoma, an eyewitness said that the situation was actually avoidable if the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the company that reconstructed the Aba axis of the Eastern Railway can fix the railroad crossing gates around the city.
According to him, “I witnessed it; I was here, and I was shouting at the top of my voice. The train was approaching its terminal from Port Harcourt. As it was getting closer, the sienna was coming from that mechanic’s side along the Golf Course side; other vehicles were speeding from Factory Road and Bata areas.
“Then soldiers who were plying the other route could not also have patience, as they were also trying to cross. Another problem is the road demarcation used by those who reconstructed Factory Road to block the U-turn near the rail crossing.
“So, I guess the driver was confused and was struggling until the train crashed into his vehicle and dragged him across the road to the other side, leading to the terminal where the vehicle now crashed on a wooden blockade that helped it clear the rail track as the train continued its journey to the terminal station there.
“I think we should thank God that the train was not really going at a high speed because it was already approaching its station. If not for the reduced speed, blood would have flood here today. The man was lucky.”
DrumAfricanews spoke to another eyewitness, Ikenna Anajemba and he corroborated the narrative of Uzoma, adding that the NRC should ensure that railroad crossing gates, designed to stop vehicle and pedestrian traffic when a train approaches are functional.
“As in the late seventies and early eighties, nobody would shout to a vehicle to stop because the railroad crossing gates were manned by NRC officials for safety purposes.
“If they’re tired of employing people right now, they can as well make the railroad crossing gates automatic. Why do we love embarrassing ourselves in this country?
“Yes, the driver should have been more careful, but how careful can one be when the obvious circumstance facing you wasn’t expected and too hard to navigate? Let those that did the road construction come and remove the demarcation at the U-turn; it’s affecting driving.”
Sources told DrumAfricanews that the driver of the sienna vehicle who survived the accident, ran away to avoid arrest, and payment charges by the officers of the railway police station.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Aba Train Station, Mr Israel Uwalekwu, told DrumAfricanews that the incident was avoidable if only Aba drivers could be patient enough to see danger and apply caution.
Uwalekwu, who said he is yet to hear from the train driver on what actually transpired at the scene, further stressed that similar situations have been averted in the past with a little bit of luck.
The PRO called on commercial transport operators in Aba to add more value to their lives and that of their passengers, by seeing patience as a key to safety and not a sign of cowardice, especially around a railway cross.
“The level of impatience among Aba commercial drivers, both those of vehicles and tricycles, is unprecedented. Nobody can explain where they’re rushing to.
“These people cannot spare two seconds without feeling that something is eluding them. Their attitude sometimes looks suicidal, but we thank God, who has been guiding us safely and will continue to guide us along the tracks.
“Train has its right of way; vehicles and humans have their own?” Why are vehicles now hitting trains in their own right of way?
