Tragedy strikes as 11 lives lost when car falls off Lagos-Abeokuta highway bridge

A devastating accident on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State has claimed the lives of at least 11 people, after a vehicle fell off the Eruku Bridge.

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This tragic incident was confirmed by Afolabi Odunsi, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, in a statement released on Sunday.

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According to Odunsi, the accident occurred earlier in the night and involved a gold Toyota vehicle with registration number GGE722KJ, which somersaulted and plunged off the bridge.

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The vehicle was carrying 11 occupants, comprising 10 adult males and one adult female, all of whom lost their lives in the accident, as stated by Odunsi.

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Following the incident, operatives from the Itori Unit Command of the FRSC were immediately deployed to the scene to provide assistance.

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Odunsi explained that the vehicle's doors locked upon impact, trapping the occupants inside, and all 11 people on board lost their lives in the crash.

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With support from the local community, FRSC personnel dismantled the vehicle to recover the bodies of the victims, which were then deposited at the State Specialist Hospital morgue in Ifo.

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According to the preliminary report, driving under the influence and overloading are cited as the probable causes of the accident, as stated by Odunsi.

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The Ogun State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Oludare Ogunjobi, has advised motorists travelling along the Abeokuta-Lagos route to exercise caution, particularly during night journeys, in response to the incident.

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Ogunjobi also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased victims, as stated in the FRSC's statement.

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Prior to this incident, PUNCH Metro had reported several fatal crashes along major highways in Ogun state, with road safety officials repeatedly warning motorists against speeding, drunk driving, and overloading.