20 killed in Ondo, Lagos road crashes

Nine persons were Sunday confirmed dead while one was rescued alive when a 20-feet container pulled off the truck conveying it and landed on top of a commercial minibus, commonly known as Korope around Ojuelegba area of Lagos state.

Investigations revealed that the bus was picking up passengers when the truck lost control and fell over the side of the bridge. 

Permanent Secretary Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the death of 4 adult males, 3 adult females, one boy and a girl while an adult female was rescued alive.

Also speaking, Director Public Affairs and Enlightenment Lagos  State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the accident occurred around 12:45 pm Sunday which damaged the minibus with registration no KTU 921YG. 

He told reporters that “other emergency responders at the scene include the Lagos State Fire Service, LASEMA, Federal Road Safety Corps among others.”

General Manager LASTMA Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, who condoled with the deceased families, warned motorists, particularly commercial bus drivers to be careful while driving along with any trucks either on top of a bridge or on an expressway across the state.

 Ondo black Sunday

In a related development, it was anguish and tears Sunday as 11 persons were burnt to death in a fatal motor accident that occurred at Soka Bridge in Ore, the headquarters of Odigbo local government area of Ondo state.

Though, the identities of the victims were yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, Blueprint gathered that the accident involved a trailer and a Marcopollo bus.

According to an eye witness account, the accident was caused by a trailer driver who engaged in a one-way driving.

A witness, who did not want his name in print said: “The trailer passed through one way and in the process collided with the Marcopollo bus which was coming from Benin route. The bus caught fire in the process.”

The Federal Road Safety Corps, Unit Commander in Ore, Mr. Sikiru Alonge, confirmed the incident via a phone call.

He said the incident caused traffic congestion along the route and all the eleven persons were burnt beyond recognition, saying the fire had been extinguished.

Alonge, who said the traffic was being controlled on the Benin/Lagos lane, added that efforts were on in collaboration with other security agencies to remove crashed vehicles from the road.

He, however, urged motorists to always obey all traffic rules to avert further tragedy.

 FRSC expresses concerns

Meanwhile, the FRSC Corps Marshal Dauda Ali Biu has expressed deep concerns over the fatal crashes that occurred at Ojuelegba Bridge, Lagos state.

Biu, who recommended the construction of a barricade on Ojuelegba Bridge, also cautioned against route violation and excessive speeding.

In a statement Sunday by the Assistant Corps Marshal Corps Public Education Officer Bisi Kazeem, the FRSC said its rescue teams in collaboration with other emergency management agencies, had cleared obstructions from the crash scenes for ease of movement.

The statement read in part: “According to the preliminary investigation conducted into the fatal crashes, the Ojuelegba crash involved a Mack Truck with a 40ft container with the registration number KJA 380 KD, who apart from engaging in excessive speed, also indulged in an act of wrongful overtaking and a Suzuki mini bus registered as KTU 921 YD; while the Soka avoidable menace involved a Truck driven against traffic and a Macopolo Bus.

“As at the time of issuing this statement, 11 victims were burnt beyond recognition at the Soka Bridge while the Ojuelegba crash involved 13 people of 9 males and 4 females. Out of the 13 people, 9 were killed: 5 Male adults, 1 male child, 1 female child and 2 female adults. 

“Out of the 4 victims who survived the Ojuelegba crash, 2 were rescued without injuries while the remaining 2 sustained various degrees of injuries.

“The Corps Marshal who frowned at the incident explained the importance of barricading the bridge against articulated vehicles citing some of the dangers that come with their continuous use of the bridge as he calls for efforts to be made towards expanding the connecting roads under the bridge to accommodate all articulated vehicles. 

“The Corps Marshal also reiterated the need for the enactment of laws that will bring justice to victims of these crashes and where such laws already exist, efforts should be made to activate them so that justice will be served accordingly to both the drivers and the victims.

“He admonished the public to always patronize the FRSC toll free line 122 and the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM which are always available for all road users to report emergencies at any given time.”

About Suleiman Idris/Oguntade Ismaila, Lagos, Barnabas Olabisi, Akure and Abdulrahman Zakariyau, Abuja

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