By Favour Adinya
A man and a child narrowly escaped death on Monday, August 19th, 2024 when a tree suddenly fell on a car at Eta Agbor by Akim in Calabar Municipal Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Eyewitnesses said that the tree uprooted by strong winds, crashed onto the vehicle, causing significant damage to the bonnet. Fortunately, the occupants escaped unhurt.
Road users who witnessed the incident have called on the Calabar Urban Development Authority (CUDA) to take immediate action to remove some aging trees along the road to prevent such incidents in the future.
“It was a close call,” said an eyewitness. “If the tree had fallen a few seconds earlier, it would have been disastrous. We urge CUDA to take responsibility and ensure our roads are safe.”
READ: 8 Escape Death As Tree Crushes Commercial Bus In Calabar
The incident has raised concerns about the maintenance of urban infrastructure and the need for regular tree trimming to prevent accidents.
CUDA and the Ministry of Environment have yet to comment on the incident, but road users are demanding swift action to prevent future occurrences.
Recall that on September 8, 2020, eight people had a close shave with death in Calabar, after a tree branch broke off from its trunk, landing on the minibus which they were in.
The mini bus was conveying seven passengers along the Murtala Mohammed Highway when the incident occurred at the Beebosco junction.
Similarly, a middle-aged man on Monday, 8 November 2021 escaped death in Calabar, after a tree branch broke off from its trunk, landing on his Toyota Camry.
READ ALSO: Another Roadside Tree Falls On A Car In Calabar
The Toyota Camry which was coming from Zone 6 Police station axis to Mobil filling station by MCC along the Murtala Mohammed Highway when the incident occurred at Calabar-Calabar roundabout beside Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital at about 5:35 pm.
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