A school pupil and her mother were among the victims in a road accident that occurred in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Monday.
The tragic incident, which involved a trailer conveying tiles and a lorry loaded with soft drinks, occurred at Oke Eleshin, Amuloko on Akanran Road, in the Ona Ara Local Government Area of the state, on Monday morning.
PUNCH Metro was told that the accident claimed the lives of six persons and injured five others in two tricycles.
Among the injured was a pupil whose mother reportedly died in the crash. Four of the injured who were conveyed to the Amuloko City Hospital nearby included two primary school children who were treated as out-patients while two with severe injuries had been admitted for proper treatment.
The dead were conveyed to a hospital that was not yet ascertained.
A staff member of the Oyo Road Transport Maintenance Agency, who did not want his name in print, said, “The accident occurred in the early hours of today (Monday). It was caused by brake failure of the trailer that was descending the slope of the road.”
Another eyewitness said, “When the trailer lost control, it crushed a tricycle popularly called Keke NAPEP. Another lorry conveying soft drinks, which was coming from behind it tried to avoid hitting the trailer in front, and in the process hit and crushed another Keke NAPEP. We learnt that six persons died while five persons sustained injuries. They have all been conveyed away from here.”
The accident caused a serious gridlock with passengers alighting and trekking.
Aside from the vehicles and tricycles, two other cars were damaged in the multiple accident.
Sympathisers who were prevented from burning the vehicles blamed the drivers (who had escaped) and claimed that the accident could have been minimised if the driver of the vehicle that lost brake had swerved into a ditch instead of facing the incoming tricycle.
The Managing Director of the Amuloko City Hospital, Raji Wale, said, “Four patients were taken to this hospital. The accident occurred in the early hours of today ( Monday). Six victims were brought here with varying degrees of injury. Some were taken to other hospitals. We were able to absorb the ones brought here. Two have been treated as out-patient victims and they have been stabilised and they have left. Two kids have been treated and they are downstairs. One of them, I was told was in the Keke NAPEP with his mother. The mother died.
“The other two with severe injuries have been admitted and are being treated. They have been optimised and we are taking care of them presently. He explained.
When contacted, the state Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mary Alo, confirmed the accident but said she would officially confirm when her men briefed her appropriately.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewole Osifeso, said the Federal Road Safety Corps commander would give a detailed report on the accident.
