At least 28 people have lost their lives in the accident that occurred in the Onipetesi area along the Ore/ Lagos highway of Odigbo local government area of Ondo state.
LEADERSHIP gathered that 32 people were involved in the accident, while 28 out of the passengers were burnt beyond recognition in the inferno that erupted after the accident.
According to witnesses, the two survivors rescued had serious injuries and died before getting to the hospital while two people were still receiving treatment.
Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Samuel Ibitoye, hinted that the 28 people were burnt “beyond recognition on Saturday evening in a fatal accident caused by a head-on collision of two vehicles.”
He said the accident occurred at Mile 49 on the Ore-Lagos expressway in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The FRSC boss said, “The accident was caused by excessive speeding and traffic violation, which led to a head-on collision by the two vehicles while 28 passengers out of 30 passengers lost their lives tragically.
“It’s unfortunate that 28 lives were burnt beyond recognition in the fatal accident caused by excessive speeding and traffic violations.
“The contract between drivers and passengers is to take them safely to their destinations after they have paid not to drive them to their graves.”
While advising that drivers must always exercise patience on the highway, Ibitoye said that passengers, too, must partake in road safety by cautioning drivers who always throw caution into the air by speeding and disobeying traffic rules.
He added that passengers could also report them to FRSC personnel on the highway.
He said, “This is why everyone must participate in road safety.
The passengers, too, have a role to play by cautioning drivers or reporting them to FRSC personnel on the highway.
“We appeal to our drivers to always exercise patience on the highway to reduce crashes and save lives and property,” Ibitoye said.
LEADERSHIP learnt that the remains of the deceased have been deposited at the General Hospital in Ore.
