18 Dies In Sagamu-Benin Expressway Road Accident

A total of 18 persons lost their lives in a road accident that happened on the Ogbere axis of the Benin-Sagamu expressway, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE)

In a statement, Babatunde Akinbiyi, the agency’s spokesperson, disclosed that a Toyota Hiace (XA 690 AKU) vehicle crashed into a bad section of the road, leaving passengers burnt beyond recognition, with one injured.

Akinbiyi said an explosion, triggered by petroleum motor spirit (PMS) stored in a jerrycan in the vehicle, compounded the situation.

“Eyewitnesses and the driver confirmed that a jerrycan filled with PMS fell over when the bus hit a bad section of the road,” he said.

“The fuel spilled onto the bus floor and ignited after coming into contact with the exhaust pipe, causing the vehicle to catch fire in transit.

“The partially burnt and injured driver rescued was taken to Rona Hospital in Ijebu Ode, while the dead were deposited at State Hospital Mortuary, Ijebu.”

Akinbiyi asked drivers to refrain from storing fuel in kegs to avert disasters.

The TRACE spokesperson extended “heartfelt condolences” to bereaved families.

In August, the agency reported that four people died in road accidents in Abeokuta, the state capital.

On Monday, no fewer than 36 Muslim worshippers died in a road accident in Kaduna state.