- Vehicle plunges into Omi River in Ajegunle
- 15 bodies recovered and 38 other injuries confirmed
- Driver fatigue blamed for the unfortunate incident
Fifteen persons have been reported dead on Tuesday along Ijebu-Ode-Ibadan Expressway after a truck carrying several passengers plunged into a river.
The victims who were reportedly travelling from Sokoto fell into the Omi River in Ajegunle.
Confirming the incident, The spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Ogun State Command, Florence Ikpe, said that 15 corpses have been recovered from the river.
Also, 38 others sustained serious injuries and they have been taken to State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode.
She further stated that rescue operatives led by the corps commander in Ijebu-Ode and rescue operatives from Ago Iwoye outpost were quickly mobilized to the scene.
Speaking on the cause of the crash, she said it was due to driver’s fatigue, adding that the vehicle swerved off the road and crashed into the dried Omi river, which has a narrow bridge lacking safety guard railings.
The FRSC spokesperson said the corpses were evacuated to Sabo in Ijebu-Ode with the Sarki Hausawa making arrangements with the police for a mass burial of the dead victims.
The sector commander, Clement Oladele, sympathized with the families of the victims, advising passengers to stop boarding vehicles meant for transportation of goods only.
