Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

Tragedy greeted the Umudo, Ezi – Ogbaku community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, today, first day of the year as an alleged drunk driver rammed into a middle-aged woman , killing her on the spot.

According to an eyewitness, the deceased, Mrs Love Usobi who had five children for her husband, Ekechi an artisan, was said to be returning from church, a stone throw from her family house before she met her untimely death.

The source narrating how the incident occurred said that the fully-loaded 14-seater sprinter bus from Aba  belonging to God’s Time Motors with registration number GUE 599 XA, Edo State, was heading for Onitsha before it skidded off the road and rammed into the woman along Owerri-Ogbaku, Onitsha road at about 9 45 am.

“We saw the vehicle veering off the major road and with speed of lightening, it rammed into the woman who was just about to turn into her street”.

However, one of the passengers from the bus who did not want his name mentioned said that the driver had earlier told them how he drank excess alcohol with some friends  in Aba to celebrate the New Year.

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“I don’t think it happened as a result of brake failure; I had watched him several times dozing off; sitting on the front roll I was not comfortable, I kept asking him to be careful but he would not listen.

“He said they had plenty to drink and eat in Aba to usher in the New Year, so when he was driving I noticed it in his  conduct.”

Another relation to the deceased, Mrs Chiyenre Usobi told our correspondent that the victim was full of life before going to church in the morning.

“She shouted Happy New Year with us in the wee hours of today from her compound; she only went back to church to thank her God for protecting her, only for her thanksgiving be short lived”.

Meanwhile, the rest of the passengers who came out of the vehicle with bruises and wounds, managed to continue their journey with another transport company while the driver submitted himself to the nearest police station at Ogbaku.

The remains of the deceased were later taken by the police to a nearby mortuary in an ambulance