Posted by This Day on
Auto accident at the weekend claimed lives of 24 persons along Akungba- Oka Road in Akoko South West Area of Ondo State, when a truck with registration number, Kano RG 438 NCR had a break failure, lost control before crushing a commuter bus conveying passengers including two six-months old babies.
Auto accident at the weekend claimed lives of 24 persons along Akungba- Oka Road in Akoko South West Area of Ondo State, when a truck with registration number, Kano RG 438 NCR had a break failure, lost control before crushing a commuter bus conveying passengers including two six-months old babies.
Most of the victims, according to an eyewitness were mainly members of one Pa Ogunrinde family who were returning from the maiden convocation ceremony of the Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko where young Ogunrinde was one of the graduands.
Twenty-two persons among the victims were believed to be members of one Pa Ogunrinde family. Ogunrinde, his two wives, others sons, daughters with relatives were the only passengers in the bus.
The accident, eyewitness said happened at a dangerous bend between Iwaro Oka and Oke Maria, some few kilometers from Akungba when the bus was marked Lagos NW 405 EKY believed to have been hired by Pa Ogunrinde to celebrate the convocation of his son, was crushed by the truck.
However, the young Ogunrinde stayed back at the school to celebrate with his friends while the family and the invited relatives embark on the ill-fated journey back home.
THISDAYchecks at the AAU revealed that the young Ogunrinde who was in celebration mood collapsed and fainted when the news of the accident filtered into the campus.
The young Ogunrinde was taken to a hospital where he is still receiving treatment for shock.
Confirming the accident, he Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Ondo State, Mr. Hassan Ahmed said the accident, which happened at Oka, claimed 22 lives.
He appealed to motorist to always obey traffic rules saying this will assist in reducing carnage on our roads. The sector commander also said that motorists should ensure that their vehicles were road worthy at all times warning that the FRSC would not hesitate to arrest any driver who breaks any of the traffic laws.
Ahmed used the opportunity to warn timber lorry drivers who he said were in habit of driving their lorries without good break system and lighting. He said that the command would begin to impound such vehicles.
The bodies of the victims have since been deposited at a mortuary in Ikare while some of them were buried on Sunday. END.