Many passengers were on Tuesday burnt beyond recognition, while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal accident that occurred in Epe Local Government, Lagos State.
Amid conflicting casualty figures, it was gathered that 23 male passengers were involved in the accident and of this number, two escaped unhurt while five were rushed to the hospital by the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos command , while 16 persons died.
According to witnesses, the accident occurred at about 3 am on Tuesday when the commercial vehicle conveying the passengers and an articulated truck collided and their vehicle went up in flames.
Confirming the tragedy, the Public Education Officer of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State command, Olabisi Sonusi, disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the accident occurred due to impaired visibility and reckless driving from both drivers.
Sonusi, who noted that the emergency management agencies are on ground ensuring prompt recovery and evacuation of all crashed vehicles, added that the white bus is with number plate KTN 262YJ while that of the articulated truck was unknown.
According to the statement, “The Sector Commander Federal Road Safety Corps Lagos Sector Command Corps Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide therefore advised motorists to always avoid night journeys because of impaired visibility at that hour.
Also confirming the tragic incident, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, revealed that the truck was conveying sand before it collided with the commercial bus within the axis.
He said, ‘’Upon arrival of the LASEMA Response Team, LRT Whale’s Squad at Epe at the incident scene, it was revealed that a truck conveying sand had a head on collision with a hummer commuter bus with six passengers on board.
‘’Furthermore the two vehicles got burnt as a result of the impact of the collision, unfortunately, five adult males (all from Katsina State ) were burnt beyond recognition. The commodities were bagged and handed over to their relatives.’’
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