Fatal Ogun Accident Claims 10 Lives, Leaves Six Others Hurt

Ten people lost their lives in a fatal road accident that occurred on Sunday night, while six others were injured in the crash.

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The accident happened at approximately 8:05pm at Saapade Bridge along the Ibadan–Lagos Expressway, and involved a collision between a white Sinotruk truck and a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number EKY 290 YM.

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Afolabi Odunsi, the spokesman for the Ogun FRSC Sector Command, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Sunday, disclosing that 18 people were involved in the crash.

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According to Odunsi, the 18 people comprised 15 adult males, two adult females, and one male child, with 10 persons, including nine adult males and one male child, dying in the crash.

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Six others, including four adult males and two adult females, sustained varying degrees of injuries, while two adult males escaped unhurt in the accident.

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The Federal Road Safety Corps attributed the crash to a combination of speeding, wrongful overtaking, and dangerous driving, as stated by Odunsi.

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Odunsi explained that preliminary investigation revealed the crash was caused by speed violation, wrongful overtaking, and dangerous driving, with the truck driver reportedly reversing on the highway after missing his direction.

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The approaching bus, travelling at high speed, attempted to navigate through the limited space available and rammed into the truck, resulting in the fatal accident.

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FRSC rescue operatives arrived promptly at the scene and evacuated the injured victims to Victory Hospital, Ogere, for medical treatment, while the deceased were deposited at FOS Mortuary, Ipara.

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The personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Ishara Division, have taken custody of the crashed vehicles, with arrangements made for their evacuation, and the crash has been cleared with traffic flowing freely.

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Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, the Sector Commander, has commiserated with the families of the deceased and wishes the injured a speedy recovery, warning motorists against reversing on highways and excessive speeding.

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Ogunjobi reiterated that road users should always obey traffic rules, maintain safe speeds, and use designated turning points whenever they miss their routes, to prevent needless loss of lives on the highways.

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A similar incident occurred in May, when a dispatch rider lost his life following a collision with a containerised articulated truck along the Ilupeju Bypass area of Lagos State.

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The spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, stated that the tragic incident occurred after the rider reportedly struggled for right of way with a commercial minibus, popularly known as “Korope.”