16 Die, 17 Injured In Oyo Multiple Auto Crash

At least 16 people were yesterday confirmed dead. In contrast, 17 others sustained injuries in an accident along the Ojo-Iwo road section of the Ibadan-Lagos expressway near the Agbowo/Ajao area.

Our correspondent gathered that the accident occurred when a trailer loaded with roofing sheets collided with an 18-seater Hummer bus, a Micra taxi, and a Honda CR-V car.

According to eyewitnesses, the trailer involved in the accident experienced brake failure, causing it to collide with three other vehicles travelling in the same direction, resulting in a devastating crash.

Narrating the incident to journalists, Mr. Emmanuel Omotoso and Mrs Funmi Adejumo said the ongoing construction of the Lagos -Ibadan expressway could be responsible for the fatality as the other expressway lane was blocked.

However, the motorists appealed to the Oyo State government to purchase heavy towing vehicles and ambulance buses for rescue operations in case of an emergency like the one that just occurred.

They equally called on the contractor handling the road construction to open up the other lane that was blocked to prevent future accidents that claim many lives every day on the Ojo-Iwo Road expressway.

As of the time this report was filed, private heavy towing vehicles were instrumental in removing trapped vehicles from the scene, and some of the rescued passengers were transported to the hospital for medical attention.

The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Oyo State, Roseline Alo, who confirmed the accident, said 16 died while 17 were injured.

She said the injured had been taken to hospital for medical attention while two were unhurt.

Alo disclosed that the driver of the extended vehicle had escaped from the accident scene.