No fewer than 10 people lost their lives, while six others were injured in a tragic road accident that occurred on Sunday night at Saapade Bridge along the Ibadan–Lagos Expressway in Ogun State.
The crash, which happened around 8:05 p.m., involved a white Sinotruk truck and a Toyota Hiace commercial bus with registration number EKY 290 YM.
The Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Afolabi Odunsi.
According to the FRSC, 18 people were involved in the accident, including 15 adult men, two adult women and one male child.
Ten victims — made up of nine adult men and the male child — died in the crash, while six others suffered varying degrees of injuries. Two passengers escaped without injuries.
The FRSC said preliminary investigations revealed that the accident was caused by excessive speeding, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving.
The statement explained that the truck driver allegedly reversed on the expressway after missing his route, leaving little space for the approaching bus, which was reportedly travelling at high speed and eventually rammed into the truck.
Rescue teams from the FRSC evacuated the injured victims to Victory Hospital in Ogere for treatment, while the bodies of those who died were taken to the FOS Mortuary in Ipara.
The damaged vehicles have been handed over to officers of the Nigeria Police Force from the Ishara Division, while the accident scene has been cleared to allow the free flow of traffic.
Reacting to the incident, Ogun State FRSC Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, expressed sympathy to the families of the victims and wished those receiving treatment a quick recovery.
He also urged motorists, especially truck drivers and commercial transport operators, to avoid reversing on highways, speeding and other dangerous driving practices that put lives at risk.
Ogunjobi stressed that drivers should always obey traffic regulations and make use of designated turning points whenever they miss their routes to prevent avoidable accidents.
