…Vehicle Suspected To Carry Fuel In Jerrycan
By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
Thirteen persons were on Saturday burnt beyond recognition in an early morning auto crash that occurred at Lasoju Oja, along Ilorin-Ogbomosho highway.
Though the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, said 12 persons out of eighteen involved in the crash, were burnt beyond recognition, but the police in a statenent by the Kwara State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi, said that 13 people died.
Okasanmi said the “unfortunate fatal auto-mobile accident, involving a fully loaded commercial Hummer bus, heading to Katsina in Katsina State and an articulated vehicle, laden with cement occurred at Lasoju area along Ogbomoso Ilorin highway, at about 0700hrs today 12/3/2022.”
He added, “Preliminary investigation revealed that, the Hummer bus coming from Lagos was driving against traffic at the above mentioned point, and in the process, it had a head-on coalition with the on-coming truck.
“Thirteen, 13, passengers of the commercial bus were burnt beyond recognition, six others who were seriously injured are presently recieving treatment at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Ilorin.
“Consequent upon the condition of the dead bodies, public health officials and the families of the victim’s requested from the Police Command that the victims be released to them for mass burial, the process of which was ongoing as at the time of this press release.”
However, the Kwara State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Jonathan Owoade, told newsmen that “the crash was as a result of Route Violation, RV; Speed Limit Violation, SPV, and Loss of Control, LOC.”
He further disclosed that 18 persons were involved in the crash, six persons were injured while 12 persons lost their lives, saying, “It was a fatal crash which happened at about 6:20am, 18 persons were involved, six sustained various degree of burns and sadly, 12 of them lost their lives and were burnt beyond recognition.”
Meanwhile, CompassNG had a strong feeling that the Hummer bus, coming from Lagos must be carrying fuel in jerrycan with the way it instantly burst into flames when it collided with the truck with a cargo of cement.
It had been hectic getting fuel in Kwara State of late, forcing motorists on long journeys to buy the product in kegs to ease their trips.
The experience however had been tragic with the incessant cases of vehicles, particularly commercial ones, bursting into flames at even minor crashes.
