Truck crashes into electricity poles, injures man in Rivers

An aged man was injured yesterday when a construction truck carrying a heavy-duty diesel generator lost control and smashed into two electricity poles, which collapsed on him.

The incident occurred at Kalabari Street (formerly Udi Street) in the Mile One area of Port Harcourt. According to sources, the aged man who was walking along the street was left unconscious afterwards.

The victim, whose identity remains unknown, was rushed to a nearby medical facility for urgent attention. The incident, which occurred at about 1:30 p.m., also damaged parked vehicles in the neighbourhood.

An eyewitness and Point of Sale (PoS) operator explained that the truck was speeding when the incident happened. She revealed that the truck’s cargo got caught on some overhead wires and pulled them, destroying nearby poles. She also mentioned that the vehicle’s speed caused the pole to collapse, hitting the innocent man.

The eyewitness, who requested anonymity, stated that the incident would have been more disastrous if there had been electricity flow when it happened.

She said: “I saw a truck speeding into the street with a generator. Some taxi drivers were trying to stop the truck, but it hit some wires and broke two poles. The first pole fell and dragged the second, which hit an older man walking by. Everyone ran away. After some minutes, some men arrived, helped the injured man, and took him to the hospital. We don’t know if he will survive.”

Another eyewitness, who disclosed that the incident happened around 1.30 p.m., added that the pole may have shattered the victim’s spinal cord. He said the fallen electricity poles equally smashed three vehicles.

“A jeep parked by the side of the street and two other cars were destroyed by the poles. We thank God that there was no electricity when this happened,” he added.