Posted by By TUNDE RAHEEM, Akure on
A tragic road accident on Wednesday evening claimed 18 lives at Eleyowo village along the Akure-Owo road in Ondo State.
A tragic road accident on Wednesday evening claimed 18 lives at Eleyowo village along the Akure-Owo road in Ondo State.
According to an eye-witness, the accident, which happened at about 10:00p.m, was caused by th driver of a trailer driver loaded with soft drinks, who suddenly swerved to the other lane and had a head-on collision with an Owo-bound 18-passengers commuter bus.
The accident, Daily Sun learnt, sparked a violent protest from some irate youths in Owo town.
According to the eye witness account, the passenger bus took off from Lagos heading for Owo, but the tragic incident occurred some few kilometres to the town.
The truck was said to have rammed into the bus, apparently due to poor vision, resulting in instant death for most of the victims.
A senior lecturer in the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo was said to have died in the accident. A lecturer in the school, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the death to our Daily Sun correspondent.
As the news of the tragedy filtered into town, the youths became enraged, attacking shops of funeral undertakers who, they believed, were using evil power to cause accidents anytime there was lull in business.
The youths were said to have set caskets being sold in some shops on Uka and Fajuyi streets ablaze.
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adeniran Aremu (ASP), confirmed the report of the accident and the 10 persons that died, with six others seriously injured.
He urged motorists to be more careful while driving, especially during this Easter season.