At least 16 people lost their lives and 17 others sustained injuries in a tragic accident that took place on Tuesday morning along the Ojoo-Iwo Road section of the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway, close to the Agbowo/Ajao area.
The accident occurred when a trailer, heavily loaded with roofing sheets, collided with multiple vehicles, including an 18-seater Toyota bus, a Micra taxi, and a Honda CR-V.
Eyewitnesses reported that the trailer suffered a brake failure, which led to the devastating crash involving the three other vehicles traveling in the same direction.
The ongoing construction on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is believed to have contributed to the severity of the incident, as the other lane of the expressway was blocked.
Mr. Emmanuel Omotoso and Mrs. Funmi Adejumo, two eyewitnesses at the scene, suggested that the blocked lane due to the construction work may have played a significant role in the high number of casualties.
In response to the tragic accident, motorists have appealed to the Oyo State Government to invest in heavy-duty towing vehicles and ambulance buses to ensure prompt rescue operations in the event of similar emergencies.
Additionally, they called on the contractor handling the road construction to open up the blocked lane to prevent future accidents of this nature.
At the time this report was filed, private heavy towing vehicles had been crucial in removing the wrecked vehicles from the scene. Some of the injured passengers were rushed to the hospital to receive the necessary medical treatment.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Oyo State, Roseline Alo, confirmed the accident, stating that 16 people had died while 17 others were injured.
She added that two other individuals involved in the crash were unharmed.
Furthermore, Alo disclosed that the driver of the trailer managed to flee the scene of the accident.
