Babatunji Wusu –
- Six people died and five were injured in a crash involving a trailer and a lorry in Ibadan.
- The accident occurred due to brake failure of the trailer.
- Victims included passengers in tricycles, with one child losing their mother.
- Four injured individuals were treated at Amuloko City Hospital, with two needing admission for severe injuries.
- Eyewitnesses expressed concerns about the driver’s actions and the accident’s preventability.
In a tragic accident early Monday in Ibadan, Oyo State, six people lost their lives, and five others sustained injuries. The crash involved a trailer loaded with tiles and a lorry carrying soft drinks, occurring at Oke Eleshin, Amuloko, on Akanran Road in the Ona Ara Local Government Area.
The impact of the collision claimed six lives, including passengers in two tricycles. Among the injured was a young student whose mother reportedly died in the crash. Four of the injured were taken to Amuloko City Hospital, where two primary school children received outpatient care, while two others with severe injuries were admitted for further treatment. The bodies of the deceased were transported to an undisclosed hospital.
According to a representative from the Oyo Road Transport Maintenance Agency, the accident was caused by brake failure of the trailer as it descended the slope of the road. Eyewitnesses recounted that the trailer lost control and crashed into a tricycle. A lorry behind the trailer, attempting to avoid a collision, veered and struck another tricycle.
One witness described the chaos: “When the trailer lost control, it crushed a tricycle, popularly called Keke NAPEP. The lorry conveying soft drinks tried to avoid hitting the trailer and ended up crushing another Keke NAPEP. We learned that six persons died while five sustained injuries.”
The accident caused significant traffic congestion, leading many passengers to opt for walking to their destinations. Besides the trailer and tricycles, two other cars were damaged in the pile-up. Sympathizers at the scene expressed frustration, arguing that the tragedy could have been minimized if the trailer driver, who fled the scene, had swerved into a ditch instead of remaining on the main road.
Dr. Raji Wale, Managing Director of Amuloko City Hospital, confirmed that his facility received four patients from the accident, noting that two children were treated as outpatients. He shared the heartbreaking story of one child: “One of them was in the Keke NAPEP with his mother. The mother died. The other two with severe injuries have been admitted and are being treated.”
Mary Alo, State Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), acknowledged the incident, stating that further details would be provided.
