18 passengers killed in fiery accident on Ijebu-Ode/Ore expressway
The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency has confirmed the death of 18 passengers in the Ogbere area of Ijebu East Local Government, along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore Expressway.
The accident involved a Toyota Hiace with registration number XA 690 AKU. The passengers were burnt beyond recognition, while one other person sustained injuries.
Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Public Relations Officer of the state-owned traffic agency, confirmed this in a statement issued in Abeokuta, the state capital.
According to Akinbiyi, the accident was caused by a fire resulting from petroleum motor spirit stored in a jerry can inside the vehicle.
“According to eyewitness accounts, which were corroborated by the driver, there was a keg of petroleum motor spirit inside the bus. When the vehicle reached a section of the road that was in disrepair, it overturned. The petroleum motor spirit spilled onto the floor of the bus and came into contact with the exhaust pipe, causing the vehicle to catch fire while in transit,” he said.
The partially burnt and injured driver was rescued and taken to Rona Hospital in Ijebu Ode, while the deceased were deposited at the State Hospital Mortuary in Ijebu Ode.
The Public Relations Officer advised drivers to avoid storing fuel in jerry cans to prevent such incidents. They also extended condolences to the families of the deceased.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at Neptune Prime.
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