Tragedy struck in Oke-Elesin, Amuloko, Ona Ara Local Council, yesterday when a fully loaded truck lost control and crashed into two motorised tricycles (“Keke Marwa”), killing nine people, including a primary school pupil and her mother. Several others were critically injured.
According to an eyewitness account, one of the trucks lost control while descending the steep Oke Elesin hill and ran over other vehicles, including the motorised tricycles.
Six of the victims died at the scene, while the injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. A source told The Guardian: “The accident occurred in the early hours of this morning. It was caused by brake failure on the trailer as it was descending the slope. Having lost control, it crushed a tricycle. Another lorry carrying soft drinks, which was coming from behind, tried to avoid hitting the trailer and, in the process, hit and crushed another tricycle. We understand that six people died, and five sustained injuries.”
The Managing Director of Amuloko City Hospital, Dr Raji Wale, confirmed that four patients were brought to his hospital.
“The accident occurred early this morning, Monday. Six victims were brought here with varying degrees of injury. Some were taken to other hospitals. We were able to admit those brought here. Two were treated as outpatients, have been stabilised, and have left. Two children have been treated and are downstairs. One of them, I was told, was in the tricycle with his mother. The mother died. The other two, with severe injuries, have been admitted and are being treated,” Raji said.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Oyo State Command, Mrs Rosemary Alo, confirmed the accident but stated that an official confirmation would be released after a briefing from her officers at the scene.
At the time of this report, normalcy had returned to the area, with security personnel, including Operation Burst, OYRTMA, police, Federal Road Safety Commission, Amotekun, and local vigilantes, ensuring a free traffic flow.
