14 die as truck crushes passenger bus, others on expressway

There was pandemonium on the Ilesa-Akure Expressway on Thursday as 14 persons died when a truck ran over four vehicles.

Our correspondent gathered that the brakes of a Volvo truck, which was heading towards Akure, failed, as the truck crushed a Toyota Hiace and four other cars that were stopped at a checkpoint in Erin Ijesa.

A driver told our correspondent that policemen had stopped some vehicles coming from Akure for checks, but unfortunately the brakes of a Volvo truck coming from the opposite direction failed and the driver lost control of the vehicle, resulting in the accident.

Personal effects of occupants of the vehicles were said to have littered the scene as rescuers battled to remove the wreckage from the road to clear the gridlock the accident caused.

Motorists and passengers of other vehicles were reportedly crying as mangled bodies of the victims were removed from the wreckage.

Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were said to have rushed to the accident scene for rescue operation.

Some of the injured passengers and occupants of the cars crushed by the truck were said to have been rushed to a hospital for treatment while corpses were removed and deposited in a mortuary.

The Sector Commander of the FRSC in Osun State, Mr Peter Oke, who confirmed the accident, said the dead were seven males and seven females.

He said, “There was an accident along Ilesa-Akure Expressway today (Thursday). The accident was terrible; 24 persons were involved in the crash but 14 lives were lost. They were seven male and seven female.

“Five vehicles were involved in the crash, including a Volvo truck. I think the truck had brake failure and ran over the vehicles. There were Toyota Hiace, Toyota Camry, RAV 4 and Toyota Corolla involved in the accident.”

The FRSC boss urged motorists to always ensure that their vehicles were in good condition before putting them on the road. He said any motorists with rickety or malfunctioning vehicle would be arrested.

Oke also warned drivers against driving under the influence, saying such was one of the reasons for increased number of accident on the nation’s roads.

The Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Mr Fimihan Adeoye, when contacted on the telephone, also confirmed the accident.

He said investigation into the crash had commenced.