OGUN STATE – Tragedy struck late Monday night at the Ijebu-Imushin axis of the Ijebu Ode–Ore Expressway, claiming the lives of four individuals in a harrowing collision involving a passenger bus and a stationary construction truck.
The fatal incident, which occurred at approximately 11:16 p.m., involved a white Toyota Hiace bus (registration number BDJ 482 XC) and a blue MAN Diesel truck (registration number RSH 969 XC) belonging to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ogun State spokesperson, Afolabi Odunsi-Oyewole, the crash was a direct result of excessive speeding and a freak mechanical failure.
Chain of Events
Preliminary investigations revealed that the Julius Berger truck was being towed when the towing chain suddenly snapped. The mechanical failure left the heavy-duty vehicle stranded and stationary in the middle of the dark expressway.
Moments later, the Toyota Hiace bus, which was reportedly traveling at high speed, rammed into the back of the truck. In a cowardly turn of events, the driver of the towing vehicle allegedly fled the scene immediately after the collision, abandoning both the truck and the victims.
“Regrettably, all four occupants of the bus—two male adults and two female adults—sustained fatal injuries and were confirmed dead at the scene,” Odunsi-Oyewole stated. She noted that there were no survivors from the bus.
Emergency Response
FRSC rescue operatives arrived at the scene within eight minutes of the distress call. The remains of the deceased have since been evacuated and deposited at the State Hospital mortuary in Ijebu Ode.
The vehicles involved have been moved into the custody of the Nigeria Police Force, Imushin Division, as further investigations into the crash and the disappearance of the towing truck driver continue.
A Pattern of Carnage
This latest tragedy follows a similar incident on March 2 at Aiyetoro Junction in Epe, Lagos, where a truck laden with yams lost control during a U-turn, killing one person and injuring three others in a collision with a commercial tricycle.
In response to the rising death toll on the corridor, the Ogun State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Akinwunmi Fasakin, issued a stern warning to motorists. He emphasized the extreme dangers of night travel and urged drivers to adhere to speed limits.
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Fasakin also called on towing companies to ensure their equipment meets rigorous safety standards to prevent “avoidable tragedies” caused by snapped chains and stalled vehicles.
