No fewer than 10 people have been confirmed dead, while six others sustained injuries in a tragic road crash at the Saapade Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.
The fatal accident involved a white Sinotruk truck with no visible registration number and a white Toyota Hiace bus bearing registration number EKY 290 YM.
The Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) disclosed the incident in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Afolabi Odunsin.
According to the FRSC, 18 people were involved in the crash, including 15 adult males, two adult females and one male child.
The Corps said 10 victims died in the accident, comprising nine adult males and one male child.
Six others—four adult males and two adult females—suffered varying degrees of injuries, while two adult males escaped unhurt.
Preliminary findings by the FRSC indicated that the crash resulted from a combination of speed violation, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving.
The statement alleged that the truck driver attempted to reverse on the expressway after missing his route.
At the same time, the approaching Toyota Hiace bus, reportedly travelling at high speed, tried to squeeze through the limited space created by the manoeuvre before crashing into the truck.
FRSC rescue teams responded promptly to the emergency, evacuating the injured victims to Victory Hospital, Ogere, for treatment.
The bodies of the deceased were deposited at the FOS Mortuary in Ipara.
The Corps added that officers of the Nigeria Police Force from the Ishara Division had taken custody of the crashed vehicles pending further investigation and evacuation.
Reacting to the incident, the Ogun State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Oludare Ogunjobi, expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
He also warned motorists, particularly commercial drivers and truck operators, against reversing on highways, excessive speeding, dangerous driving and other traffic violations that put lives at risk.
The Ogun FRSC Command urged all road users to obey traffic regulations, maintain safe speeds and use designated turning points whenever they miss their routes, stressing that adherence to these safety measures would significantly reduce avoidable road crashes and fatalities on Nigerian highways.
