Car accidents...
The road from Kabba to Abuja is particularly busy as it is the main Lagos-Abuja route. But that doesn't stop drivers from travelling at crazy speeds or trying all kinds of stupid stunts.
We travelled back this road a couple of Sundays ago and came upon a huge lorry attemping a u-turn on this busy, narrow highway. The lorry driver was pulling into the side of the road, as far as he could go, to allow him to manoeuver a 3 point turn. But he pulled in too far. We passed him just as this realisation dawned on him, and his terrified face will stay with me for a long time as the lorry began to fall. It turned 2 or 3 times as it fell down the steep incline.
Our driver stopped, as did 5 or 6 others. But within minutes, 50 cars/buses/lorries had pulled up on the side of the road. Men, women and children gathered to watch the accident. Nuns, grandmothers, infants gathered. To do what I dont know - they couldnt have helped. Maybe just to watch, to pray, to tut...
We left the scene after 10 minutes, as soon as we could find our driver in the masses. And after a couple of minutes one of the many peugots on the road over took us. The boot was flung open and several men sat inside. Not an unusual sight, but it turns out the unconsious lorry driver was among them. And this was his make-shift ambulance - after falling 30 foot and being thrown through a wind shield.
Car accidents happen with brutal regularity here. And with brutal consequences...
We travelled back this road a couple of Sundays ago and came upon a huge lorry attemping a u-turn on this busy, narrow highway. The lorry driver was pulling into the side of the road, as far as he could go, to allow him to manoeuver a 3 point turn. But he pulled in too far. We passed him just as this realisation dawned on him, and his terrified face will stay with me for a long time as the lorry began to fall. It turned 2 or 3 times as it fell down the steep incline.
Our driver stopped, as did 5 or 6 others. But within minutes, 50 cars/buses/lorries had pulled up on the side of the road. Men, women and children gathered to watch the accident. Nuns, grandmothers, infants gathered. To do what I dont know - they couldnt have helped. Maybe just to watch, to pray, to tut...
We left the scene after 10 minutes, as soon as we could find our driver in the masses. And after a couple of minutes one of the many peugots on the road over took us. The boot was flung open and several men sat inside. Not an unusual sight, but it turns out the unconsious lorry driver was among them. And this was his make-shift ambulance - after falling 30 foot and being thrown through a wind shield.
Car accidents happen with brutal regularity here. And with brutal consequences...
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