A train
crushed a truck and a commercial tricycle in Kano metropolis on Sunday afternoon, leaving an unspecified number
of passengers dead.
According to Channels TV, the accident involved Dangote
Cement truck loaded with about 300 bags of cement and the tricycle conveyed
four passengers.
At the accident scene, the truck was seen upside-down with
cement littered all over the rail tracks, while the tricycle was also seen
crushed with broken glasses and tricycle parts on the rail tracks.
Residents of the area, who witnessed the accident scene, said
efforts were made to flag down the trailer but it was not fruitful.
“What happened is that the train was already at a very high
speed. I was beckoning on the truck driver to stop, warning him of the
impending danger but he did not listen. Before you know it, the terrible
accident occurred. I can’t say how many people died but it was very ghastly,”
the source, who gave his name as Ahmed Adam, said.
Another eyewitness, Musa Danna, blamed the accident on
overspeeding on the part of the truck driver.
“The truck driver was on high speed and the train was also on
high speed. Onlookers were screaming that the truck driver should slow down but
I guess too many voices left him confused,” he said.
“The train crashed into the truck, it lost control and crushed
the tricycle. The train couldn’t stop, I couldn’t continue looking at the
scene. It was so heartbreaking, and I walked away.”