By Olatunde Ajayi
Tragedy occured on Friday night at the Ibadan toll gate end of the Ibadan/Lagos Expressway as six persons died in a multiple vehicle accident.
The Oyo State Fire Service Agency, in a statement issued by its Chairman, Mr Moroof Akinwande, on Saturday, said that eight persons were however rescued in the crash.
Akinwande said that the eight were handed over to the team of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) led by SRC Adegbite for further medical attention.
Akinwande said that preliminary findings showed that the accident was a result of brake failure.
“The distress call was reported at exactly 9:29p.m. on Friday, June 19, through a telephone call from CSP Sola Rotimi of a multiple accidents around the Ibadan toll gate area.
“The agency’s officers, led by CFS Adesina Soji, promptly responded and were deployed to the scene of the incident.
“Upon arrival, we discovered that the accident involved six (6) vehicles, including gas tankers and articulated trucks, and two (2) cars, resulting in a fire outbreak.
“The crew quickly swung into action, and the fire was restricted from causing further damage to other vehicles and nearby properties,” he said.
Akinwande urged the public to be conscious while driving, particularly on highways, to avoid unnecessary accidents.
He also emphasised the importance of installing fire extinguishers in every vehicle in order to promptly put out fires at the incipient stage.
