The New Year commenced on a solemn note as two distressing events unfolded along the bustling Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, resulting in the loss of two lives and injuries to 10 individuals.
Quest Times gathered that the first mishap occurred around 8 am near Isara Remo, the heart of Remo North Local Government Area in Ogun State.
A solitary crash involving a Toyota car, with the registration number TTD985AA, resulted in the death of two passengers, leaving three others injured.
The victims were swiftly taken to Victory Hospital Ogere for medical care, while the deceased were respectfully placed in the Isara General Hospital morgue.
Federal Road Safety Corps spokesperson, Florence Okpe, in a statement on Monday, attributed the accident to excessive speed, stating, “The suspected cause of the lone crash was excessive speed and the vehicle suddenly lost control and ran into a ditch.”
In a separate incident, a commercial Mazda bus with the registration number SKD-798XN faced tragedy at Arepo bus stop on the same expressway.
The vehicle caught fire, leaving seven of the 14 occupants seriously injured. Miraculously, all passengers survived, escaping death despite the severity of the accident.
Eyewitness Gabriel recounted the morning horror, mentioning that more than 18 passengers, including children, were involved.
He remarked, “The accident happened in the morning and it was a serious accident. The tyres of the bus busted. I think the passengers were more than 18 because I know they were babies in the vehicles and some people got burnt completely.”
Ogun Sector Commander of FRSC, Florence Okpe, clarified that the Mazda bus’ tires burst due to speeding, causing it to somersault.
Fortunately, no lives were lost, as the seven injured individuals were promptly taken to AZ Medical Care Hospital in Magboro, Ogun State.