A devastating accident occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, claiming the lives of 19 people. The incident involved a truck, a fuel tanker, and a commercial bus at the Fidiwo-Ajebo stretch of the expressway. According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the fuel-laden truck attempted to overtake another truck at a road diversion point but lost control, veering off into the commercial bus coming in the opposite direction.
The accident involved a truck marked AJG 40 XA, a fuel tanker with registration number RAN 571 XA, and a passenger bus marked AGL 373 XR. The Sector Commander of the Ogun State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Adetunji Adegoke, confirmed that 15 persons – six females and nine males – died in the accident, while one person sustained injuries. The injured victim was taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) in Sagamu, and the dead were deposited at the FOS Mortuary in Ipara, near Sagamu.
Adegoke attributed the cause of the accident to “wrongful overtaking”. This highlights the importance of adhering to road traffic rules and regulations to prevent such tragic incidents. The FRSC Sector Commander advised drivers to observe speed limits, avoid wrong overtaking, and shun the use of expired or tokunbo tires to avoid accidents on the roads.
Operatives from the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), the police, and the FRSC were seen trying to pull victims out of the mangled passenger bus. The rescue efforts were ongoing as of 2:30 pm, with the agencies working together to respond to the incident.
This incident is a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for drivers to exercise caution while driving. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has been the site of several fatal accidents in recent times, highlighting the need for increased vigilance and adherence to traffic regulations.
