Nine people lost their lives, and three others sustained injuries in a fatal crash that occurred in the early hours of Monday along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The accident, which took place at the Ayetoro area of the expressway around 5:30 a.m., involved a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number UYY 165 ZY (Uyo) and a MAN truck with registration number DKA 244 XC.
Confirming the incident, the Public Education Officer of the Ogun State Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Chief Route Commander Florence Okpe, attributed the cause of the crash to excessive speed and fatigue, which led to a loss of control.
“The fatal crash occurred at about 0530HRS on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway around Ayetoro area. A total of 13 people were involved, comprising 10 male adults and 3 female adults. Unfortunately, nine people lost their lives (six males and three females), while three others sustained injuries,” Okpe stated.
According to the FRSC, preliminary investigations revealed that the driver of the bus, who was allegedly fatigued, rammed into the stationed truck, leading to the tragic accident.
“The suspected causes of the fatal crash were excessive speed and fatigue, which led to a loss of control, causing the driver to ram into a stationary truck,” Okpe explained.
Emergency responders were promptly deployed to the scene, with the injured victims taken to Famobis Hospital in Mowe, while the deceased were moved to Idera Morgue in Sagamu.
Reacting to the incident, the Ogun State FRSC Sector Commander, Corps Commander Fasakin Akinwumi, expressed his dismay over reckless driving habits, particularly the failure of some drivers to observe speed limits and the mandatory 15-minute rest after every four hours of driving.
“He sympathizes with the families of the crash victims and enjoins them to contact Mowe Unit Command for further information regarding the accident,” the statement added.
The FRSC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring safety on the highways and urged motorists to exercise caution, obey traffic regulations, and avoid excessive speed to prevent avoidable road crashes.
