Six people were killed and 19 others injured on Friday when a passenger vehicle somersaulted following a tyre burst at Osuponri Village, near the ICT Polytechnic in Itori, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, confirmed the accident during a phone conversation with PUNCH on Friday.
Akinbiyi explained that the accident happened around 11 a.m. when a Toyota bus with registration number KJA 851 YH, carrying 27 passengers, was involved.
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He stated that the vehicle’s tyre burst while it was moving at high speed, leading it to somersault.
He said, “A fatal accident occurred at Osuponri Village near ICT Polytechnic, inbound Itori, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Ewekoro Local Government Area, Ogun State.
“It involved a Toyota bus with registration number KJA 851 YH (grey colour).
“It was caused by a tyre burst and loss of control that led to the vehicle somersaulting.”
The crash reportedly claimed the lives of six passengers, including the driver, while 19 others suffered different degrees of injuries.
Akinbiyi added that those injured were rushed to the Ifo General Hospital in Ogun State for treatment, while the remains of the deceased were placed in the hospital’s morgue.
“25 people were in the bus, including seven male adults, 11 female adults, two male children, and five female children. 19 people were injured, including five male adults, nine female adults, one male child, and four female children.
“Six people died, comprising two male adults, two female adults, and one male and one female child, respectively.
“The injured victims were taken to the Ifo General Hospital, Ifo, for medical treatment, while the presumed dead bodies were deposited at the same hospital morgue,” the TRACE spokesperson said.
Expressing condolences to the families of the victims, Akinbiyi cautioned drivers against using counterfeit or expired tyres due to the serious risks involved.
“Nevertheless, TRACE, the Police, and the FRSC commiserate with the families of the deceased, advising drivers to exercise caution while driving.
“In the words of the acting Head of TRACE, Cdr. Omonayajo Elias, drivers are hereby charged to avoid using fake and expired tyres in view of their attendant consequences,” he concluded.
