No fewer than 10 people were killed and six others injured in a road crash that occurred at Sapade Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Sunday night.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun Sector Command, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Monday by the command’s Public Education Officer, Superintendent Route Commander Afolabi Odunsi.
According to the FRSC, the crash happened at about 8:05 p.m. and involved a white Dangote Sinotruk truck and a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number EKY 290 YM.
The command said 18 people were involved in the accident, including 15 adult males, two adult females and one male child.
It stated that 10 people died in the crash, comprising nine adult males and one male child. Six others, made up of four adult males and two adult females, sustained varying degrees of injuries, while two adult males escaped unhurt.
The FRSC said preliminary findings showed that the crash was caused by speeding, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving.
According to the statement, the truck driver reportedly reversed on the highway after missing his route, while the approaching bus, said to be travelling at high speed, attempted to pass through the limited space available but rammed into the truck.
FRSC rescue personnel evacuated the injured victims to Victory Hospital, Ogere, for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at FOS Mortuary, Ipara.
The command added that officers of the Nigeria Police Force from the Ishara Division had taken custody of the crashed vehicles, while the obstruction had been cleared to allow the free flow of traffic.
Reacting to the incident, the Ogun Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, sympathised with the families of those who lost their loved ones and wished the injured a quick recovery.
He also warned motorists, especially commercial drivers and truck operators, against reversing on highways, speeding, dangerous driving and other traffic offences capable of causing fatal crashes.
The FRSC urged all road users to obey traffic regulations, maintain safe speeds and use designated turning points whenever they miss their routes to prevent avoidable accidents.
