At least 25 people, including a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) official, lost their lives in two separate multiple crashes in Ogun State on Saturday.
Eight others were reported injured.
The first crash occurred at about 7 a.m. near the NIPCO filling station along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, involving a Mack truck (SEY 363 YY), a tanker (T2900LA), and a bus (LSD 180 YA).
The crash claimed the lives of seven people, while four others were injured.
Florence Okpe, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Sector of the FRSC, confirmed the incident in a statement.
She attributed the cause of the crash to excessive speed by the driver of the Mack truck, which caused him to lose control and collide with the other two vehicles.
Okpe further stated, “A total of 15 people were involved in the accident, including 13 male adults and 2 female adults.
“Four people were injured (3 male adults and 1 female adult), and 7 people died (6 male adults and 1 female adult). The involved vehicles were a Mack truck (SEY 363 YY), a tanker (T2900LA), and a yellow bus (LSD 180 YA).
“The crash was caused by excessive speed, which led to the loss of control by the driver of the Mack truck.”
“The injured were taken to Divine Touch Hospital and Glory Center Hospital in Ibafo, while the bodies of the deceased were transported to Idera Morgue in Sagamu. The crash site was cleared, and the vehicles were towed to allow for the free flow of traffic.”
The second crash occurred around 4 p.m. near Mosimi, along the Sagamu-Ikorodu Road, while FRSC officials were clearing the scene of an earlier accident. A vehicle with faulty brakes reportedly crashed into the rescue team, killing one FRSC staff member and 18 others.
Okpe described the incident, saying, “A total of 22 people were involved in the second crash, including 14 male adults, 6 female adults, and 1 child.
Four people were injured, and 18 people, including one FRSC staff member, were killed. This happened when two vehicles initially crashed, and while FRSC officials were conducting the rescue operation, another vehicle with brake failure crashed into them, killing one of the rescue officers.”
The injured were taken to Dasochris Hospital in Gbaga, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH).
The vehicles involved in the second crash included a Toyota Hiace bus (AGL 752YC), a DAF truck (T14007LA), a Honda car (HT680), another DAF truck without registration, a pickup truck (STF 10204), a motorbike (AGG 448Q), and a Bajaj motorcycle (PKA 214WS).
FRSC Sector Commander Akinwumi Fasakin expressed his deep concern over the reckless driving that led to the crashes and the number of fatalities. He emphasized that excessive speed and brake failure were major contributors to the accidents. Fasakin urged motorists to drive within the designated speed limits and to be mindful of road signs to avoid further tragedies.
