16 die, 17 injured in Ibadan multiple road crash

About 16 persons were feared dead yesterday along Ojo-Iwo Road, off Ibadan-Lagos expressway, around the Agbowo/Ajao area when a trailer loaded with roofing sheets collided with an 18 seaters Hummer bus, a Micra taxi and a Honda CR-V car.

It took the intervention of heavy private towing vehicles to remove the trapped vehicles and rescue victims, while some of the passengers were rushed to hospital for medical attention.

Some motorists who witnessed the incident told Radio Nigeria that the trailer had a brake failure and rammed into the three vehicles plying the same two-way traffic.

Some motorists appealed to the Oyo State government to purchase heavy towing vehicles and ambulances for rescue operations in similar emergencies.

They also called on the contractor handling the road construction to open up the blocked other lane to prevent future crashes.

The Oyo State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said 16 persons were confirmed dead, while 17 others were seriously injured in the early morning crash.

The FRSC explained that 35 persons were involved in the ghastly accident; sixteen died on the spot while the injured were recuperating at Amdalat Hospital, Agbowo, in Ibadan North Local Council.

It said the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the morgue of the State Hospital.

Motorists plying the route spent several hours in traffic due to the crash.

Commercial motorists were also forced to take alternative routes, especially those travelling to Lagos.