16 feared dead, 22 injured in Osun, Delta crashes

No fewer than 16 people were feared dead while 22 others secured various degrees of injuries in two road accidents in Osun and Delta states on Saturday.

In Osun State, 11 travellers died while 22 others were injured in an accident involving a white Mazda commercial bus with registration number KJA392YA and a black Toyota Hiace bus with registration number GWL427YM had a head on collission in front of Ayedaade Local Government Secretariat on Gbogan-Ibadan Expressway.

An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Taiwo, said the two vehicles were on high speed when they collided with each other.

“We didn’t even know that any of them could survive the accident. It was a terrible scene. It was so terrifying to see blood dripping from the two vehicles,” he said.

Another eyewitness who pleaded not to be named said: “The officials of Road Safety, Osun Ambulance and Osogbo Ambulance who arrived at the scene of the accident on time rescued those that had not died.

“I don’t know the number of those that survived, but many people died in the accident.”

When the spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Osun Command, Mrs Agnes Ogungbemi, was contacted, she confirmed that 11 people were killed in the accident while 22 people were injured, blaming speed limit violation as the possible cause.

She said that “16 injured victims were taken to Ariremako Hospital in Gbongan, six injured victims were taken by Central Hospital, Osogbo.

“Ife rescue team, who joined us in the rescue operations after a call was put to them, took 10 corpses to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife morgue.  The remaining one corpse was taken by the relatives who are from the Hausa community in Lagos.”

Ogungbemi noted that 7 phones, some luggage and unspecified amount of money were recovered from the scene.

In Asaba, Delta State capital, no fewer than five persons were feared dead following an accident involving a Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and a tricycle.

The Nation learnt that the driver of the Lexus knocked down two pedestrians on Ibusa Road near the park of a commercial transport company as he tried to escape after ramming into the tricycle and killing its three occupants on the spot.

The sources added that the driver of the Lexus was headed towards Koka Junction when the accident happened.

An eyewitness said the driver attempted to escape, “but people who were around stopped him. This is a very busy area because of the parks that are here.”

The Nation gathered that an irate mob beat the driver to a pulp and would have set him ablaze with his car but for the swift intervention of the police.

Acting Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident.

Edafe said his men rescued the Lexus driver from the mob, adding that the matter was under investigation.