At least 10 people, including a male child have reportedly died in an accident that occurred in the early hours of Monday on the Olooru – Okoolowo express road, Ilorin, Kwara state.
Ten other passengers were also seriously injured in the fatal accident which involved two vehicles: a Volvo Truck and an 18-passenger Toyota Hiace bus.
The accident, according to the information provided by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), occurred at Iyemoja village on the Olooru- Okoolowo route about 06: 40 am.
The FRSC said the crash occurred as a result of wrongful overtaking by the driver of the Volvo Truck which led to the head on collision with the bus.
A statement by the FRSC Public Relations Officer, Kwara Sector Command, Basambo Olayinka, said the command received the report of the accident in the early morning of Monday.
“On receipt of the report of the crash 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 crash scene for the rescue operation.
” Preliminary investigations revealed the following;
” The crash occured due to wrongful overtaking by the driver of the Volvo Truck which led to the head on collision with the bus.
“b. The bus was coming from Lagos en route Sokoto and was conveying seventeen (17) Passengers and goods.
“c. The Truck was coming from the North enroute Lagos and had three (3) passengers.
“Note: full investigation is still ongoing to further ascertain some details of the crash.
“A total of 20 people (15 Male Adults, 4 Female Adults and one 1 Male Child) were involved, Ten Male Adults sustained varying degree of injuries while Ten people (5 Male Adults, 4 Female Adults and one 1 Male Child) sadly lost their lives.
“The injured victims have since been taken to General Hospital, Ilorin while corpses of the dead were taken to UITH Mortuary, Ilorin.
“We deeply sympathize 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.”
