10 Die, Six Injured as Two Escaped Unhurt in Truck-Bus Collision on Ibadan-Lagos Expressway

July 7 () — Ten persons have lost their lives while six persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in an auto crash that occurred at Sapade Bridge along the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway in Ogun State.

Spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) Ogun State Command, Afolabi Odunsi who confirmed this to newsmen in a statement in Abeokuta yesterday, said two persons escaped unhurt from the crash.

Odunsi said that the crash occurred at about 8:05 p.m. on Sunday along the expressway.

Involved in the crash is a white Sinotruk (CNHTC) Dangote truck with an unknown registration number and a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number EKY 290 YM.

The superintendent route commander said that 18 persons(15 adult males, 2 adult females, and 1 male child) were occupants involved in the crash where 10 persons( nine adult males and one male child) died, six persons( four adult males and two adult females) sustained injuries and two escaped unhurt.

According to him, the preliminary investigation showed that the crash was caused by speed violation (SPV), wrongful overtaking (WOV), and dangerous driving (DGD).

Odunsi explained that the crash occurred when the truck driver reversed on the highway after missing his direction, while the approaching bus travelling at high speed attempted to navigate through the limited space available and in the process rammed into the truck.

He noted that the officials of FRSC arrived at the scene promptly for the rescue mission and evacuated the injured victims to Victory Hospital, Ogere, for medical treatment, while the deceased were deposited at FOS Mortuary, Ipara.

The FRSC Spokesperson opined that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Ishara Division, have taken custody of the crashed vehicles, while arrangements have been made for their evacuation, adding that the crash vehicle has been cleared and traffic is flowing freely.

The Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, commiserates with the families of the deceased and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.

Ogunjobi warned motorists particularly commercial drivers and truck operators, against reversing on highways, excessive speeding, dangerous driving, and other traffic violations that endanger lives.

He urged road users to always obey traffic rules, maintain safe speeds, and use designated turning points whenever they miss their routes.

These simple precautions can prevent needless loss of lives on our highways.