Fifteen persons, all males, have reportedly lost their lives in an auto crash at Muslim Cemetery, along the Ogbomoso-Oko Olowo route on the Ilorin-Jebba Expressway, Kwara State.
THISDAY checks revealed that the fatal crash, which occurred at about 2:32 a.m. on Monday, was a lone accident involving a DAF XF trailer with registration number GWL274XC.
Confirming the development, the Kwara State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Kabiru Babatunde Kazeem, said the fatal crash, which occurred at about 2:32 a.m. on Monday, was a lone accident involving a DAF XF trailer with registration number GWL274XC.
He said a total of 48 people, all males, were involved in the crash, adding that 17 people sustained varying degrees of injuries while 16 persons were unhurt.
Kazeem also said the cause of the auto accident was fatigue on the part of the driver, adding that the injuries sustained included fractures, dislocations and bruises.
The FRSC boss said the injured victims had been taken to Arewa Medical Centre and Baki Hospital for medical attention, adding that the corpses had been handed over to representatives of the families and the Sarkin Hausawa, Oko Olowo, in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State.
He said the search for more victims who were buried under the load was ongoing, adding that the rescue operation was jointly carried out by personnel of RS8.15 Oloru and RS8.1 Kwara (Oko Olowo Outpost).
The Sector Commander said the command intended to intensify public enlightenment through town hall meetings with relevant stakeholders while advising motorists to avoid mixed loading and night travel.
Hammed Shittu