…the truck, loaded with vegetable oil, experienced brake failure, causing the driver to lose control in the busy toll gate area.
LAGOS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Tragedy struck on Tuesday morning when six people lost their lives after a truck lost control and collided with vehicles and pedestrians at the Old Toll Gate area of the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed that the accident occurred around 8:00 a.m.
In a statement, Afolabi Odunsi, Public Education Officer of the Ogun Sector Command of the FRSC, explained that the truck, loaded with vegetable oil, experienced brake failure, causing the driver to lose control in the busy toll gate area.
“A tragic road traffic crash occurred today at approximately 08:00 hrs at the Old Toll Gate, Ota. The incident claimed six lives and left others injured,” Odunsi said.
According to him, the articulated vehicle ploughed into two other vehicles and bystanders.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the truck suffered mechanical brake failure. Six adults, five males and one female were confirmed dead, while two adult males sustained varying degrees of injuries,” he added.
The injured victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to the Ifo General Hospital morgue.
Odunsi noted that the Chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Wasiu Lawal, who visited the scene, ordered the immediate removal of roadside traders around the Old Toll Gate to prevent future accidents.
“To prevent a recurrence along this high-risk corridor, the chairman directed the immediate dislodgement of illegal traders occupying the road verges and pledged the council’s support to the FRSC and other security agencies in enforcing the directive,” Odunsi said.
The Sector Commander, Corps Commander Akinwunmi Fasakin, also urged drivers, particularly operators of articulated vehicles, to conduct thorough mechanical checks before embarking on journeys.
Confirming the incident, Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, said the truck driver fled the scene. He identified the vehicles involved as a Mack truck (EKY 913 YH), a Suzuki minibus (SMK 16 YK), and a tricycle (AAA 840 QM), attributing the crash to reckless speeding.
“The crash occurred when the driver of a Mack tanker truck, travelling from Ota towards Lagos, drove at excessive speed and collided with several vehicles, including a tricycle and pedestrians,” Akinbiyi said, adding that six people died and three others were injured.
The truck was later towed to a nearby police division, while emergency responders managed traffic and restored normalcy in the area.
Ogun State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the accident had commenced.
“This morning, at about 09:30 hrs, a fatal motor accident occurred at Ilo-Awela Junction, Toll Gate, along the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway involving a Mack tanker truck, a Suzuki bus, a tricycle, and pedestrians,” she said.
Several victims were taken to the General Hospital, Ota, where six were later confirmed dead, while others received treatment. The deceased have been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.
The police extended their condolences to the families of the victims.
