Four killed, one injured in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway crash

By Adejayan Gbenga

Four people were killed and another injured in an early-morning crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State on Wednesday.

The accident occurred at about 4 a.m. near Straight Gate School, Ipara Remo, along the Ibadan-bound route and involved a blue Mitsubishi Cabstar, registration number FGE 753 XA, and an ash-coloured HOWO truck, registration number T-695 KT.

The Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps said eight people were involved in the crash. According to the command, the Mitsubishi driver was travelling at high speed when he attempted to overtake the moving truck and rammed into it.

The FRSC identified speeding and wrongful overtaking as the preliminary causes of the crash, with fatigue also listed as a contributing factor. The command’s spokesperson, Chief Route Commander Afolabi Odunsi, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday.

Odunsi said four male adults died in the crash, while another male adult sustained injuries. He added that three other people escaped unhurt.

He said the FRSC rescue team received the distress call at 4:33 a.m. and arrived at the scene six minutes later. The injured victim was taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the FOS Mortuary, Ipara.

Meanwhile, the two vehicles were handed over to the Police Motor Traffic Division, Isara, for further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The Ogun State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists to avoid speeding, fatigue and dangerous overtaking, especially during early-morning journeys. He also advised drivers on long-distance trips to rest adequately before travelling and overtake only when it is safe and permitted.