A devastating accident on Tuesday morning claimed the lives of 16 people and left 17 others injured along the Iwo Road-Ojoo axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The tragic incident occurred when a trailer loaded with roofing sheets lost control and collided with three other vehicles: an 18-seater Hummer bus, a Micra taxi cab, and a Honda CR-V.
The accident, which took place around 9:43 a.m., was reportedly caused by a brake failure in the trailer. According to Mayowa Odewo, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oyo Sector Command, the trailer veered into the same lane as the oncoming vehicles, leading to the horrific collision.
“The accident occurred after a trailer carrying iron materials lost control and ran into multiple vehicles, including a bus coming from the North with 18 passengers, most of whom were children,” Odewo stated. “Sixteen people died instantly, while 17 others sustained varying degrees of injury. Two people in the Honda CR-V survived and were taken to a nearby hospital. Some of the injured, who were Hausa, refused hospitalization.”
The scene of the accident was chaotic, with sympathizers struggling to rescue victims trapped in the mangled vehicles. The collision caused a significant traffic jam in the area, exacerbated by ongoing construction on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which had led to the blockage of one lane.
FRSC personnel, led by Oyo Sector Commander Corps Commander Rosemary Alo, were quick to respond, visiting the scene to manage traffic and prevent further incidents. The injured were transported to Amudalat Hospital in the Agbowo area of Ibadan, while the deceased were taken to a cemetery along Akinyele.
Odewo noted that most of the deceased were of Hausa origin, and their bodies have been handed over to community leaders. “The Seriki of the Hausa has been informed, and we have released the bodies of the deceased to them,” Odewo said. The accidented vehicles have since been moved to Irepodun Police Station by the authorities.
Witnesses, Mr. Emmanuel Omotoso and Mrs. Funmi Adejumo, told New Telegraph that the halted construction on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway contributed to the accident, as it forced vehicles into a single lane, creating hazardous driving conditions.
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