Five killed, 10 injured in Ogun auto crash

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By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

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ABEOKUTA — No fewer than five persons lost their lives, while 10 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal road accident that occurred on Thursday at the Iyana Egbado axis of the Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway in Ogun State.

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The lone accident involved a white Mazda E2000 bus with registration number KRD 809 XC and occurred around 11:12 a.m.

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The vehicle was reportedly conveying 20 passengers at the time of the crash.

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Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Ogun State Sector Command, Afolabi Odunsi, said the passengers comprised six adult males, 11 adult females, one male child and two female children.

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Odunsi disclosed that the crash claimed the lives of five persons, including one adult male, two adult females, one male child and one female child, while 10 others sustained injuries. Five passengers escaped unhurt.

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According to him, “The crash occurred at about 11:12 a.m. and was reported at 11:15 hrs. FRSC rescue operatives from RS2.28 Itori Unit Command arrived at the scene at 11:20 hrs, with a response time of five minutes.

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“Out of the 20 persons involved, five persons were killed, comprising one adult male, two adult females, one male child and one female child. Ten persons sustained varying degrees of injuries, while five persons escaped unhurt.”

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He attributed the accident to excessive speeding and overloading.

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Odunsi added that the injured victims were taken to General Hospital, Ifo, and Oreofe Specialist Hospital, Itori, for treatment, while the remains of the deceased were deposited at the General Hospital morgue in Ifo.

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“Preliminary investigation revealed that the probable causes of the crash were speeding and overloading. The road was paved, while the weather condition at the time of the incident was cloudy,” he stated.

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Reacting to the incident, the Ogun State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, sympathised with the families of the victims and warned motorists against speeding, overloading and other traffic violations.

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Ogunjobi urged drivers to obey traffic regulations at all times, especially during the festive period, stressing that road safety remains a collective responsibility.

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