FRSC urges caution as 30 burnt to death in Ondo road crash
The Federal Roads Safety Corps has urged for caution on the part of motorists following the 30 lives lost in a road accident which occurred on the Benin-Ore-Ijebu Ode Expressway at Onipetesi community in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State on Saturday evening.
The deceased were said to have been burnt to death when two buses conveying them had a head-on collision and burst into fire.
Confirming the accident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Samuel Ibitoye, said a preliminary investigation showed that one of the vehicles involved in the accident drove against traffic.
He said, “Thirty people lost their lives in the accident, 28 persons were burnt beyond recognition in the crash while two initially survived but later died on their way to the hospital.
“Motorists should always drive with caution on the expressway and obey the traffic rules to avoid accidents.”
An eyewitness had told PUNCH Metro that the accident occurred when two commercial buses collided head-on and later burst into fire, with no survivors.
“We were around the area when we heard a very loud sound. On getting to the scene, we saw two vehicles which collided, already burning while some people inside them were struggling to go out.
“Shortly after, the FRSC officers rushed to the scene and took the only two who survived it to the hospital. But we learnt they later died,” the eyewitness said,
In a reaction through his Chief Press Secretary Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Sunday, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa urged the commercial drivers’ union in the state to educate their members on the need to obey the traffic rules and regulations.
Adeniyan said, “The governor extends his heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of the fatal accident.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa said the state has made tremendous progress in recent years in improving road infrastructure and reducing accidents.
“The governor urges the driver unions to intensify efforts in sensitising their members to preventing similar tragedies in the future.”
