Eight die, 36 injured in Osogbo-Gbongan road crash

Etim Effiong

Eight persons died and 36 injured in a road crash which happened on Gbongan-Osogbo expressway early Saturday, Osun Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has said.

The FRSC sector commander, Mrs Kudirat Ibrahim announced this in a statement from the Public Relations Officer of the command, Mrs Agnes Ogungbemi, in Osogbo.

It was learnt that the road crash happened around at 1:20 am, on Saturday, opposite Ataoja Overhead bridge, along Abere, Osogbo-Gbongan expressway.

According to Ibrahim, 36 others sustained various degrees of injuries in the lone accident, in which 61 persons were involved.

He said: “An articulated vehicle, a blue truck Volvo with number plate KMC 35 ZJ, loaded with palm oil, lost control on the Ataoja-overhead bridge.

“The vehicle, which was heavily loaded with jerry cans of palm oil and over 60 passengers, was trying to ascend the ramp.

“The vehicle lost control, rolled backwards and fell by the side into the drainage, throwing off the jerry cans on passengers and killing some in the process.”

She noted that the injured had been taken to Ladoke Akintola University Teaching (LAUTECH), and Asubiaro Hospitals, both in Osun.

Ibrahim appealed to motorists, especially carriage and articulated vehicles, to always follow road safety regulations.

He urged road users to avoid flouting safety rules by endangering their lives and those of other innocent citizens.

She, however, said the command had in a swift response, also deposited the corpses in a morgue and cleared the highway to avoid gridlock.