No fewer than 10 people lost their lives while six others sustained injuries in a tragic road accident that occurred on Sunday night at Saapade Bridge along the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway in Ogun State.
The crash, which happened at about 8:05 p.m., involved a white Sinotruk (CNHTC) truck and a white Toyota Hiace bus bearing registration number EKY 290 YM.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Afolabi Odunsi, said 18 people were involved in the accident. The victims comprised 15 adult males, two adult females and one male child.
According to him, 10 people, including nine adult men and one male child, were confirmed dead, while six others, made up of four adult males and two adult females, suffered varying degrees of injuries. Two adult male occupants escaped without injuries.
“A total of 18 persons were involved in the crash, comprising 15 adult males, 2 adult females and 1 male child. Sadly, 10 persons lost their lives, comprising 9 adult males and 1 male child, while 6 persons (4 adult males and 2 adult females) sustained varying degrees of injuries. Two adult males escaped unhurt,” Odunsi said.
The FRSC attributed the fatal collision to a combination of excessive speed, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving.
Odunsi explained that preliminary findings indicated that the truck driver reversed on the expressway after missing his route, leaving little room for an approaching commercial bus travelling at high speed.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the crash was caused by speed violation (SPV), wrongful overtaking (WOV) and dangerous driving (DGD).”
“The truck driver reportedly 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 rammed into the truck.”
He added that FRSC rescue teams quickly responded to the scene and transported the injured victims to Victory Hospital, Ogere, for treatment, while the bodies of those who died were taken to the FOS Mortuary in Ipara.
According to the spokesperson, officers of the Nigeria Police Force from the Ishara Division have taken custody of the damaged vehicles, while arrangements were made to clear the wreckage from the highway.
He noted that normal traffic had since resumed along the affected section of the expressway.
Reacting to the incident, the Ogun FRSC Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, sympathised with the families of those who lost their loved ones and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
He also cautioned motorists, especially truck operators and commercial drivers, against reversing on highways, speeding and engaging in other dangerous driving practices.
Ogunjobi urged road users to obey traffic regulations, maintain safe speeds and make use of designated turning points whenever they miss their routes, stressing that adherence to these safety measures could help prevent avoidable road crashes and save lives.
The latest accident comes just weeks after a dispatch rider was killed in a collision involving a containerised articulated truck along the Ilupeju Bypass in Lagos State.
Authorities said the rider reportedly lost control while attempting to compete for the right of way with a commercial minibus, popularly known as “Korope.”