The Oyo State Fire Service has recovered the bodies of three persons after a passenger bus lost control and plunged into Ariyo River along Amuloko Road in the Ona Ara Local Council of the state.
 
Five other passengers were rescued from the accident, which occurred on Wednesday.
 
Sources said the bus, a Suzuki vehicle with registration number LEW 484 XA (Osun), was conveying eight passengers when the driver reportedly lost control before the vehicle veered off the road and crashed into the river.
 
Emergency responders from the fire service quickly mobilised to the scene following a distress call, leading to the rescue of five passengers trapped in the vehicle.
 
Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists yesterday.
 
Akinwande disclosed that the survivors were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
 
According to him, the five rescued victims were taken to a private medical facility in the Jegede area of Ona Ara for urgent medical attention.

“A Suzuki bus with registration number LEW 484 XA (Osun) carrying eight passengers lost control and crashed into a river.

“Five persons were rescued alive and conveyed to Ona Ara Hospital in the Jegede area for treatment, while three bodies were recovered from the river,” he said.

The fire service boss added that the bodies of the deceased had been handed over to officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from the Ogbere Police Division for further action.

He said the police team that received the bodies was led by ASP Aishat Ibrahim.

Akinwande attributed the accident to reckless driving, warning motorists to adhere strictly to traffic regulations to prevent avoidable tragedies on the state’s roads.

He noted that officials of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) from the Ona Ara Division were also present at the scene to manage traffic and assist in rescue operations.

Also present during the rescue operation, according to him, was the Chairman of Ona Ara Local Council, Glorious Temitope, who monitored the emergency response and coordinated with relevant agencies.

The incident has once again raised concerns about road safety and the increasing cases of accidents linked to reckless driving on major roads across the state.