UK Returnee, Four Others Killed in Separate Ogun Highway Accidents

Five individuals, including a woman who recently arrived from the United Kingdom to attend a wedding ceremony, lost their lives in two different road accidents that occurred along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Ijebu-Ode/Ore Expressway in Ogun State.

LMSINT MEDIA learned on Tuesday that the first fatal crash happened at about 11:16 p.m. on Monday along the Ijebu-Imushin section of the Ijebu-Ode/Ore Expressway.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Afolabi Odunsi, the accident involved a Toyota Hiace commercial bus and a MAN Diesel truck owned by Julius Berger.

Odunsi stated that the truck had been under tow before the incident occurred, but the towing chain suddenly broke, causing the truck to remain immobile on the road. The bus, which was reportedly travelling at high speed, later crashed into the stationary vehicle.

He explained that at approximately 23:16 hours, the white Toyota Hiace bus rammed into the blue MAN Diesel truck after the towing chain disconnected, leaving the truck stranded on the highway.

He further disclosed that four passengers inside the bus, comprising two men and two women, died instantly, while no survivor was recorded from the vehicle.

FRSC officials later moved the bodies from the scene and deposited them at the State Hospital morgue in Ijebu-Ode, while officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Imushin Division, took charge of the case for additional investigation.

Reacting to the incident, the Ogun State Sector Commander, Akinwunmi Fasakin, advised motorists to strictly obey speed regulations, especially when travelling at night, and also ensure that towing equipment used on highways meets approved safety standards to avoid preventable accidents.

In another tragic development on the same day, a woman who had just returned from the United Kingdom died in a separate crash along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at about 5:48 p.m.

The spokesperson of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, revealed that the victim was inside a Toyota Camry car together with two other passengers when the driver collided with a moving truck close to Christopher University.

According to eyewitness reports, the car was being driven at excessive speed before it rammed into the truck. Three occupants were involved in the accident, including one man and two women. One of the female passengers died, while the remaining two sustained various degrees of injuries.

Akinbiyi added that the deceased was taken to the Redeemed Hospital morgue, whereas the injured victims were rushed to Famobis Hospital and Redeemed Hospital for medical treatment.

Further findings revealed that the deceased woman and another female passenger had recently returned from the United Kingdom to attend a wedding ceremony in Abeokuta before the unfortunate incident occurred.

While sympathising with the families of the victims, Akinbiyi stressed the importance of avoiding overspeeding and obeying all traffic rules while driving.

He noted that despite continuous awareness campaigns and enforcement operations by the Ogun State Government, some motorists still ignore traffic regulations.

According to him, reckless driving and excessive speed remain major causes of fatal accidents, adding that the agency will continue its enforcement activities to safeguard lives and property on public roads.