Tragedy struck on Friday in Nnewi, the commercial hub of Anambra State, as an accident involving an articulated truck and motorcycle killed a woman and her two children.

The woman, Blessing Iteshi, an indigene of Ikwo, Ebonyi State, was said to be riding on a motorcycle with four of her children when the driver of the truck with REG No: AWK-575-ZW on high speed lost control of the vehicle break system and rammed into the motorcycle.

The accident, it was learnt, happened along Otolo/Okigwe road in Nnewi.

A witness who identified himself as Theo said the truck driver was on top speed when he suddenly lost control and rammed into the motorcycle.

He said the driver suddenly lost control and crushed four tricycles before ramming into the other vehicles.

Other eye witnesses said the accident, which happened around 9pm, involved a trailer, four tricycles, a Lexus 300 Jeep, a Peugeot Boxer bus and a Toyota Avalon car.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, while confirming the incident said that the woman and two of her kids lost their lives in the accident while the other two sustained injuries and are responding to treatment.

Mohammed disclosed that the driver was still at large, saying: “There was a fatal motor vehicle and motorcycle accident along Otolo/Okigwe road in Nnewi LGA of Anambra State.

“Accident involved a Mercedes 911 Tipper with REG number AWK-575-ZW while on speed lost control and knocked down motorcycle rider one Blessing Iteshi ‘f’ of Ikwo in Ebonyi State alongside her four children.

“Motor traffic personnel attached to Otolo division visited the scene and rushed the victim to Akwudo hospital for medical attention.”

Mohammed said that effort is being intensified to apprehend the fleeing truck driver to bring him to justice even as the corpses have been deposited at the hospital's mortuary for postmortem examination.

He added: “Similarly, four persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in a multiple accident involving one trailer truck, one bus, two cars and four tricycles. The casualties who sustained serious injuries were rushed to the hospital for treatment.”