It was a Black Monday in Ogun State as nine passengers lost their lives in a fatal road crash along the JBD/Ore route in Ijebu-Ode.
The accident, which occurred at about 4:55 p.m. in the Bethel area, involved a white Toyota Hiace bus belonging to Delta Line, with registration number 14B-299DT, and a white Sino truck commercial vehicle belonging to Bill Gas Solution Ltd, with registration number AAB162XD.
DAILY POST learnt that a total of nine persons involved in the crash, comprising three males and six females, died on the spot.
When contacted, Afolabi Odunsi, the Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun Sector Command, confirmed the incident and identified speed violation as the probable cause of the crash.
Odunsi disclosed that it was raining at the time of the accident and that the road pavement was wet.
“The crash occurred while the weather was raining, with the road pavement wet. The road itself was paved. Preliminary investigation identified speed violation (SPV) as the probable cause of the crash.”
He noted that rescue operatives arrived at the scene at 4:58 p.m., two minutes after receiving the distress call, and that the bodies of the deceased were evacuated and deposited at the General Hospital morgue in Ijebu-Ode, while the vehicles were towed to Ilese Police Station by police operatives.
Meanwhile, the Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and called on all road users to make safety their priority at all times.
Ogunjobi urged motorists, particularly commercial vehicle operators, to exercise maximum caution during rainfall, obey speed limits, maintain safe following distances and avoid any driving behaviour that could endanger lives.
He also reminded motorists that speeding becomes even more dangerous on wet roads, as reduced tyre grip and visibility can make it difficult to control a vehicle or stop safely.