30 passengers burnt to death in Ondo auto crash

About 30 passengers were burnt to death in a fatal accident that occurred in Odigbo Local Council of Ondo State at the weekend.

The Guardian learnt that the crash happened when two commercial buses collided head-on and burst into flames at the Onipetesi axis of the Ore/Lagos motorway.

Out of the 32 passengers involved, 28 were burnt beyond recognition. Two survivors, rescued with serious injuries, later died on the way to the hospital, while two others are still receiving treatment.

Sources attributed the crash to excessive speeding by the drivers of the vehicles.

Confirming the incident yesterday, the Ondo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Samuel Ibitoye, disclosed that a preliminary investigation revealed one of the vehicles had driven against traffic, leading to the collision.

Ibitoye said the crash occurred on Saturday and assured that further investigations would uncover more details. He added that the injured victims were receiving treatment, while the bodies of the deceased had been deposited at a hospital mortuary.

The FRSC boss urged drivers to exercise caution, ensure proper vehicle maintenance, and avoid reckless driving. He also called on passengers to speak out against unsafe driving practices, emphasising that road safety is a collective responsibility.