19 die in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway crash

No fewer than 19 people have been reported dead in a multiple crash at the Fidiwo/Ajebo end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. PUNCH Metro gathered that the accident involved a fully loaded commercial bus, a fuel tanker and a Dangote truck.

It was learnt that the tanker, which was travelling to Ibadan, Oyo State, had attempted to overtake the Dangote truck, when it had a head-on collision with the commercial bus. The bus, with number plate AGL 373 XR, was said to be travelling to Lagos State. It was gathered that only one passenger in the bus survived while the others died on the spot. The accident was said to have occurred at a section of the road where there was a diversion of traffic due to ongoing construction works on the road.

Our correspondents gathered that the accident caused a traffic jam which lasted for hours despite the intervention of officials of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Motorists were said to have been gaping at the corpses, which were being extricated from the wreckage.

The victims were later conveyed to the mortuary just as the injured were taken to the Ogun State University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

However, while TRACE said 19 people died in the accident, the FRSC said 15 were killed. The Public Relations Officer of TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi, blamed the tanker driver for the accident, saying he was impatient.

He said, “The tanker, with number plate, RAN 571 XA, was travelling to Ibadan. While trying to overtake a Dangote truck, it had a head-on collision with the Lagos-bound commercial bus, killing the bus passengers and the driver.

“The Dangote truck, with number plate AJG 40 XA, which was loaded with bags of cement, was also involved in the crash. Nineteen people died in the accident.”

He added that ongoing construction works along the expressway necessitated a road diversion at the point where the crash occurred.

He said the petroleum product being conveyed to Ibadan by the tanker was later transferred into another tanker.

The Sector Commander, Ogun State FRSC, Adetunji Adegoke, said the remains of the deceased had been deposited at FOS Mortuary, Ipara Remo, Ogun State. He said, “The accident happened around 8.15am on Sunday and it involved three vehicles, which we have cleared from the road. Fifteen people were killed- six females and nine males. The accident was caused by wrongful overtaking. The only survivor in the accident was taken to the Ogun State University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, while the dead were taken to FOS mortuary.

“Drivers are advised to avoid wrongful overtaking, the use of expired tyres and reckless speeding.”