Four die in late-night crash on Ijebu- Ode–Ore expressway

n n

By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

n

Four persons have been confirmed dead in a fatal road traffic crash that occurred late Monday night along the Ijebu-Ode–Ore expressway in Ogun State.

n

The accident, which happened at about 11:16 p.m. at the Ijebu-Imushin axis, involved a white Toyota Hiace bus and a blue MAN Diesel truck belonging to construction giant Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

n

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), all four occupants of the bus – two men and two women – lost their lives instantly in the collision.

n

The FRSC disclosed that preliminary investigations attributed the crash to excessive speeding.

n

The truck, which was reportedly being towed at the time, became a hazard after the towing chain snapped, leaving it stationary on the road.

n

“The speeding Toyota Hiace bus rammed into the stranded truck, resulting in the fatal crash,” the statement read, adding that the driver of the towing vehicle fled the scene shortly after the incident.

n

Emergency responders from the FRSC arrived at the scene within eight minutes of receiving distress calls. The bodies of the deceased were subsequently evacuated and deposited at the State Hospital Mortuary in Ijebu-Ode.

n

The Nigeria Police Force, Imushin Division, has since taken custody of the vehicles involved, while investigations into the incident are ongoing.

n

Reacting to the development, the Ogun State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Akinwunmi Fasakin, urged motorists to observe speed limits, particularly during night travel, and ensure that towing equipment is in proper condition.

n

He warned that adherence to road safety regulations remained critical in preventing avoidable loss of lives on the nation’s highways.

n n