According to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), a tragic road accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway claimed the lives of 16 people and left 17 others injured early Tuesday morning. The crash occurred at the Agbowo end of the expressway and involved multiple vehicles.
The FRSC confirmed that 35 people were involved in the accident.
“Sixteen died on the spot, while the injured are currently receiving treatment at Hamdalat Hospital in the Ibadan North Local Government Area,” the agency reported.
The accident took place near the Agbowo/Ajao area and involved a truck loaded with roofing sheets, an 18-seater passenger bus, a Micra taxi, and a Honda CR-V SUV. The truck, with the license plate AKM 548 ZY, reportedly lost control due to brake failure and collided with the other vehicles, causing the deadly crash.
An eyewitness, who chose to remain anonymous, described the scene: “The truck carrying roofing sheets rammed into the four other vehicles. It was a horrific sight.”
The witness added that the ongoing construction work on the highway might have contributed to the accident, as vehicles were restricted to just one lane, causing significant traffic congestion.
Locals and passers-by at the scene expressed frustration over the slow pace of construction on the highway.
“This accident could have been avoided if the Federal Government had sped up the construction work,” one passerby remarked.
Another urged the construction firm to open up the other lane to ease the traffic congestion in the area.