A journey from Asaba to Port Harcourt on Monday morning nearly ended in tragedy after the driver of a Rivers Joy Transport Sienna bus allegedly drove under the influence of alcohol, causing a frightening accident on the expressway.
According to an eyewitness, the incident occurred at about 8:37 a.m. while the passenger vehicle was travelling from Asaba to Port Harcourt.
The driver, who was travelling ahead of another vehicle, reportedly stopped twice during the journey to seek assistance.
On the first occasion, he allegedly requested help to get the vehicle started after experiencing a battery problem. Shortly afterwards, he drove into a deep pothole despite repeated warnings from people at the scene that the pothole was dangerous.
The eyewitness said their driver assisted in arranging people to push the Sienna out of the pothole and also contributed money to pay those who helped.
However, less than five minutes later, the situation reportedly took a dangerous turn.
While travelling on the expressway, the Sienna driver allegedly began spinning uncontrollably on the road, repeatedly coming dangerously close to the vehicle behind him.
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The incident occurred on a relatively empty section of the expressway, reportedly preventing what could have been a more serious collision. The Sienna eventually crashed into a stationary trailer before coming to a halt.
Passengers and other road users immediately rushed out of their vehicles following the incident.
The eyewitness alleged that the driver appeared intoxicated throughout the ordeal, an observation reportedly corroborated by their own driver, who said he had noticed a strong smell of alcohol from the man while attempting to assist him earlier.
The crash left passengers with minor bruises, while one woman was reportedly left severely traumatised by the incident.
The eyewitness expressed gratitude that the incident did not result in a head-on collision or loss of life, describing the experience as a reminder that “life is the most important.”
The incident has also raised concerns about the responsibility of transport companies in ensuring that drivers entrusted with passengers’ lives are fit to operate commercial vehicles.
The eyewitness called on Rivers Joy Transport Company to investigate the incident and strengthen its driver screening and monitoring procedures, particularly regarding alcohol use and road safety.
As the circumstances surrounding the incident remain based on eyewitness accounts, Rivers Joy Transport Company and relevant authorities are expected to establish the full facts of the incident.
