No fewer than 10 people have died, while six others were injured in a road crash involving a truck and a commercial bus at Sapade Bridge along the Lagos Ibadan Expressway on Sunday night.
The Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun Sector Command, said the accident occurred at about 8:05 p.m. and involved a white Sinotruk (CNHTC) Dangote truck with no known registration number and a white Toyota Hiace bus bearing registration number EKY 290 YM.
In a statement issued by the Public Education Officer of the Ogun Sector Command, Afolabi Odunsi, on behalf of the Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, the command said 18 people were involved in the crash.
Odunsi said the victims comprised 15 adult men, two adult women and one male child. Of the 18 victims, 10, including nine adult men and one male child, lost their lives, while six people, made up of four adult men and two adult women, sustained varying degrees of injuries. Two adult men escaped unhurt.
The FRSC attributed the crash to excessive speed, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving.
According to the agency, preliminary investigations showed that the truck driver allegedly reversed on the highway after missing his route, while the speeding bus attempted to squeeze through the available space before crashing into the truck.
> “The crash was caused by speed violation, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving. The truck driver reportedly reversed on the highway after missing his direction, while the bus, travelling at high speed, attempted to pass through the available space and collided with the truck,” he said.
Odunsi said FRSC rescue teams evacuated the injured victims to Victory Hospital, Ogere, for treatment, while the bodies of those who died were deposited at FOS Mortuary, Ipara.
He added that officers of the Nigeria Police Force from the Ishara Division had taken custody of the damaged vehicles, while arrangements had been made to clear them from the scene. Normal traffic flow has since been restored along the expressway.
The spokesperson said the Sector Commander, Ogunjobi, sympathised with the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
He also warned motorists, especially commercial drivers and truck operators, against reversing on highways, speeding, dangerous driving and other traffic offences that could lead to avoidable loss of lives.
The FRSC urged all road users to comply with traffic regulations, maintain safe speeds and use designated turning points whenever they miss their routes, stressing that strict adherence to road safety rules remains the most effective way to prevent crashes.
