Illegal street racing turns deadly as trader killed near IMSU junction [VDEO]

A suspected illegal street racing event ended in tragedy on Sunday evening after a trader identified as Chibuike was reportedly struck and killed by a speeding vehicle near the Imo State University (IMSU) Junction in Owerri, Imo State.

The victim, said to be a mobile phone accessories dealer operating around the busy IMSU School Junction, died on the spot after he was knocked down by one of the vehicles allegedly participating in the unauthorized race.

The fatal incident came barely 24 hours after another crash linked to the same group of street racers left a female pedestrian seriously injured.

According to eyewitnesses, the illegal race reportedly began on Saturday, with participants engaging in high-speed driving and drifting along public roads around the university environment.

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The Saturday race was abruptly halted after one of the drivers lost control while attempting a drift, crashing into a female pedestrian before slamming into the perimeter fence of Imo State University. The woman reportedly survived the impact but sustained severe injuries and was rushed to a hospital for treatment. The collision also caused significant damage to the university’s perimeter fence.

Despite the near-fatal incident and concerns raised by residents, the racers allegedly returned to the same area on Sunday evening to continue their activities.

It was during the renewed racing that Chibuike was fatally struck by one of the speeding vehicles, bringing the weekend’s reckless activities to a devastating end.

The incident has sparked outrage among residents, traders, and road users, many of whom have repeatedly expressed concerns over the growing menace of illegal street racing in the area.

Witnesses described the deceased as a hardworking young businessman who earned his livelihood by selling mobile phone accessories at the IMSU School Junction.

Residents are now calling on security agencies and traffic enforcement authorities to clamp down on illegal street racing and drifting on public roads, warning that failure to act could lead to more avoidable deaths.

As of the time of filing this report, the Imo State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident or confirm whether any arrests had been made in connection with the fatal crash. Investigations are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those responsible.