Federal Road Safety Corps officials at the scene of an accident

By Sheriff Balogun

An auto accident Saturday claimed the lives of nine persons along the Abeokuta- Siun-Sagamu expressway.
The accident occurred about 7.30am when a truck coming from an opposite direction lost control and rammed into a bus.

The accident involved a 18-seater Hiace bus belonging to Lukdos Transport Company and an articulated lorry marked LAGOS JJJ 489 XB and it happened at Ototo village, few meters away from the state capital.

The passengers of the ill-fated Lagos bound bus were said to be members of African Church, Solution camp, along Ewang Estate in Abeokuta.

They were travelling to attend a wedding ceremony of one of the church members before the unfortunate incident.

One of those involved was a two year-old girl who sustained head injury. She was rushed to the state hospital, Ijaiye, for treatment.

At the scene of the accident, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), state Fire Service, Ogun State Ambulance Services, Police and Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) were seen evacuating the victims.

The TRACE coordinator, Mr. Sola Bamidele, who was at the scene blamed the truck driver for driving recklessly.

He pointed out that the bus had taken off from Abeokuta less than 30 minutes before the accident occurred, adding that the authorities was still trying to get in touch with the transport company to get the manifest of the passengers.

The coordinating officer of the Ogun State Ambulances Services, Dr. Hassan Adelakun, also confirmed the death of some of the passengers and those who died on the way to the hospital.

He said that the remains of the victims had been deposited at the state hospital, Ijaiye and Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, morgues.