Eleven lives were lost in a fatal auto accident at Aiyere Community, along the Bode Saadu-Ilorin highway in the Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State early Tuesday.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kwara Sector Command Sector Commander, Stephen Dawulung, who confirmed the deaths told newsmen that the accident involved 18 people and occurred at 4:50 a.m.
Dawulung said that of the 18 people, 11 persons died on the spot while seven others suffered varying degrees of injury.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that on Tuesday, Jan. 2, a crash occurred around 4:50 a.m. due to wrongful overtaking and speed violation.
“A Toyota Hiace Bus coming from Gombe en route to Lagos wrongfully overtook another vehicle resulting in a head-on collision with an oncoming DAF truck.
“On receiving the report of the crash, our operatives at the Help and Rescue Camp established at Bode Saadu to fortify rescue operations during the end-of-year special patrol operations were immediately mobilised.
“They hurried to the crash scene for a rescue operation, which was carried out in conjunction with men of the Nigerian Police Force, Divisional Headquarters, Bode Saadu,” the commander said.
The sector commander said that the injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital for proper treatment and a full investigation into the crash was directed.
He sympathised with the families of the dead and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured ones.
Dawulung admonished drivers to drive within the stipulated speed limits, and avoid night journeys and long hours of driving without adequate rest.
He said that violations of such rules of driving could result in crashes with high fatalities.
He assured that the FRSC would continue to discharge its primary responsibilities of curbing road traffic crashes with the highest level of proficiency and professionalism, to ensure the safety of all road users. (NAN)
