Three persons were burnt to death while 15 others sustained varying degrees of injuries after a commercial bus reportedly suffered a tyre burst and burst into flames along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
The spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, disclosed this in a telephone conversation with PUNCH Metro on Thursday.
According to Akinbiyi, the accident occurred around 11am at Iyana Egbado along the Ewekoro inbound Papalanto area of the expressway in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.
He noted that the crash involved a Mazda bus with registration number KRD 809 XC carrying 20 passengers.
Akinbiyi noted that the bus suffered a tyre burst while in motion, causing the driver to lose control before the vehicle somersaulted into a nearby bush and caught fire.
“According to an eyewitness, the bus tyre burst while in motion and somersaulted into the bush and burst into flames,” the statement read.
TRACE disclosed that 17 passengers were rescued alive from the accident, while three others were burnt beyond recognition.
“The 15 injured victims had been rescued to the General Hospital, Ifo, while the presumed dead bodies were taken to the Ifo General Hospital morgue,” he stated.
TRACE also sympathised with the families of the deceased and warned motorists against excessive speeding and the use of substandard tyres.
“Motorists are again admonished to avoid excessive speed, tokunbo tyres and ensure proper maintenance of their vehicles before setting out on any journey in view of its attendant consequences,” the statement added.
Similarly, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Babaseyi Oluseyi, confirmed in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Thursday that three people died in the road crash.
He added that the lone accident was caused by a loss of control that led the vehicle to somersault before bursting into flames.
Oluseyi said, “MTD personnel of Ewekoro Division, Ogun State Police Command, have responded to a fatal lone motor accident that claimed the lives of three persons and left fifteen others injured along the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway.
“The accident occurred at about 11:05am on Thursday in the Iyana Egbado area and involved a Mazda bus with registration number KRD 809XC, which was travelling from Abeokuta towards Lagos with eighteen passengers onboard.
“Preliminary findings revealed that the driver suddenly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to somersault and burst into flames.”
He added that the injured victims were taken to a hospital while the accident vehicle was recovered for further investigation.
“Three occupants were burnt to death in the inferno, while fifteen others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the General Hospital, Ifo, for medical treatment.
“The accident vehicle has been recovered for safety inspection, while efforts are ongoing to ascertain the identities of the deceased and investigate the cause of the crash,” Oluseyi concluded.
However, the Ogun Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps noted that five persons lost their lives in the accident.
The FRSC spokesperson in the state, Afolabi Odunsi, in a statement on Thursday, disclosed that the vehicle was conveying 20 passengers, comprising six adult males, 11 adult females, one male child, and two female children.
He noted that five persons died in the accident, including one adult male, two adult females, one male child, and one female child.
“The lone crash involved one white Mazda E2000 bus with registration number KRD809XC. A total of 20 persons were involved in the crash, comprising six adult males, 11 adult females, one male child, and two female children.
“Out of the 20 persons involved, five persons were killed, comprising one adult male, two adult females, one male child, and one female child. Ten persons sustained varying degrees of injuries, while five persons escaped unhurt,” the statement read.
The FRSC further stated that preliminary investigations revealed that speeding and overloading were probable causes of the crash.
Odunsi stated that the injured victims were taken to the General Hospital, Ifo, and Oreofe Specialist Hospital, Itori, for treatment.
He added that the Ogun State FRSC Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, sympathised with the families of the victims and urged motorists to avoid speeding, overloading, and traffic violations capable of endangering lives.
He also advised drivers to ensure proper maintenance of their vehicles and strict compliance with traffic regulations, especially during the festive period.
