A ghastly auto accident in Osun State has claimed the lives of fourteen people made up of six children; as well as eight other casualties.
The development was confirmed by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Osun.
The FRSC stated that no fewer than 14 people lost their lives in the accident which occurred on Ipetu-Ijesa – Ilesa Highway on Saturday evening. The Sector Commander, Mr Paul Okpe, made this known in a statement issued by Mrs Agnes Ogungbemi; the command’s spokesperson, which was made available to newsmen on Sunday morning in Osogbo.
Okpe explained that the accident occurred at 5:40pm at the Power Line area; killing four males, four females and six children.
He said the children were two females and four males; adding that a total of 14 people died in the accident, involving 18 passengers. Furthermore, the sector commander explained that four males, who survived in the accident, were rushed to a nearby hospital.
“The 14 corpses have been deposited in a morgue, and the road cleared to avoid gridlock on the highway,” Okpe said.
The accident reportedly occurred when an articulated vehicle (Howo-Sinotruck); with number plate BAU 171 ZE collided with a Toyota Sienna (Gold Color) with number plate KRD 842 GY.
‘‘We received a distressed call at about 5:45pm on Saturday evening about an accident on Ipetu-Ijesa – Ilesa Highway, involving two vehicles. Our men arrived the location at 5:50pm and met dead bodies at the scene; which we have taken to the nearest morgue at the Wesley Hospital in Ilesa,” Okpe said.
Meanwhile, the sector commander said that the accident occurred due to disobedience to road safety ordinance by motorists. However, he cautioned road users to be safety conscious while embarking on a long journey.
According to him, safety is a shared responsibility, which must all be embraced, and not left in the hands of the safety officers alone.
