Two persons were Wednesday confirmed dead in an accident involving a truck conveying animals from the North to Osun which occurred at Gbongan in Ayedaade local government of Osun state.
It was also gathered that 15 persons were seriously injured in the accident.
Sources said the accident occurred around 8:30am, when the animal-laden truck plunged into a ditch.
When contacted, the Sector Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Agnes Ogungbemi, confirmed the incident and blamed it on mechanical deficiency.
Speaking on behalf of the sector commander of FRSC, Leye Adegboyega, Ogungbemi stated that the accident occurred at Iwo road junction, involving a commercial DAF truck without registration number.
FRSC said 17 passengers, including 15 males and 2 females were involved, while two male adults died and others injured.
Ogungbemi said: “Preliminary investigations revealed that the crashed truck was loaded with approximately 70 animals including cows, goats, and sheep as well as human passengers seated atop the animals. The vehicle was reportedly traveling from Kebbi state en route to Ikire, Osun state.
“According to statements from some of the passengers, the driver had dozed off on at least two occasions after the truck passed Osogbo. Upon reaching the Surprise Hotel area in Gbongan, the driver allegedly fell asleep again. As a result, the truck veered off the road and plunged into a roadside ditch, overturning and violently ejecting both animals and passengers,” Ogungbemi said.