Infant, nine others die in Kwara auto crash

Scene of accident along Moro Local Govt, Kwara State. Photo:Ripples

Operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kwara State Command, yesterday, confirmed the death of 10 people, including an infant in an auto crash.
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The Guardian learnt that 10 others sustained injuries in the mishap, which occurred at Iyemoja village, along Olooru-Okoolowo express road, in Moro Local Council.

It was also learnt that the incident, which happened at about 6:40 a.m., involved two vehicles, a Volvo truck and a Toyota Hiace bus.

According to a source, 20 people including 15 adult males, four females, and one male infant were involved.

An eyewitness said the driver of the articulated Volvo truck overtook wrongly, leading to a head-on collision with the 18-seater bus.

An FRSC officer confirmed that the bus was coming from Lagos enroute Sokoto and was conveying 17 passengers and goods, while the truck was said to be coming from the North enroute Lagos, and had three passengers.

The officer said: “Today (yesterday), January 8, a fatal road traffic crash occurred along Olooru-Okoolowo road, around a village known as Iyemoja. On receipt of the report, our rescue operatives at Olooru unit and at the Help and Rescue Camp, which was established at Bode Saadu to fortify rescue operations during the ongoing end of year special patrol operations, were immediately mobilised to the scene.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the crash occurred due to wrongful overtaking by the driver of the Volvo Truck, which led to the head-on collision with the bus. The bus was coming from Lagos enroute Sokoto and was conveying 17 passengers and goods.The truck was coming from the North enroute Lagos, and had three passengers.”

“Full investigation is still ongoing to further ascertain some details of the crash. A total of 20 people (15 male adults, four female adults and one male child) were involved. Ten male adults sustained injuries, while 10 people (five male adults, four female adults and one male child) sadly lost their lives.

“The injured victims have since been taken to General Hospital, Ilorin, while the remains of the deceased were taken to UITH mortuary, Ilorin.

“We deeply sympathise with families of the dead and wish the injured victims quick recovery.

The Corps wishes to admonish drivers to avoid wrongful overtaking and excessive speeding as these two are major causes of fatal crashes. The Kwara Sector Command will continue to play its part in ensuring the safety of all road users in the state.”
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