No fewer than three persons have lost their lives and four injured in a fatal accident at Arepo, Ogun State end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The accident, which occurred on Thursday around 12pm, involved a silver Toyota Corolla car with number plate FKJ848FH.
We gathered that the car driver rammed into some motorcycle riders waiting for passengers at the Arepo Junction.
The motorist, who was travelling from Lagos to Ibadan, Oyo State, was said to have lost control after a tyre burst.
He was also said to have knocked down some commuters attempting to cross the expressway.
Our correspondents, who were at the scene, observed bloodstains on the road.
Our reporters also watched as the bodies of the deceased were carried away by police officers and men of the state fire service.
Eyewitnesses told us that the driver was unhurt and fled the scene to avoid being lynched.
An eyewitness, who identified herself only as Debbie, said she narrowly escaped death as the vehicle zoomed past her.
She said, “It happened in front of me. I was about to cross the road at that time too. A lady that was beside me even hit her elbow on the side mirror of the car. The next thing I knew was that a man was hit and some bike men were also crushed. The car just cleared everyone in its path. One bike went underneath the car. It was a terrible accident and I am still shaken.”
Another eyewitness, Oluwaseun Emmanuel, stated that three motorcycle riders died.
He said, “The three okada riders died on the spot; their bikes were also crushed. Two of them were Hausas and one was a Yoruba man. Others were rushed to a hospital. I narrowly missed the accident. I just thank God for my life.”
A resident, who gave her name as Funmilayo, said she escaped by a whisker.
She said, “I couldn’t believe my eye when I got here. Do you know I would have stood at that spot where it happened because that is where I usually stand whenever I want to cross the road? I was looking for my office identity card at home. God saved me.”
Another eyewitness, Seye, said the casualties could have been reduced if the motorcycle riders heeded advice to stop waiting at the junction.
“They have been warned to stop carrying passengers on the expressway, but they refused,” he stated.
The Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Florence Okpe, in a statement, confirmed that three persons died in the accident.
The statement read, “A fatal crash occurred around 12.30pm on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway around Arepo Bus-Stop.
“A total of eight persons were involved, which comprised seven male adults and one female adult.
“Four persons were injured – one female adult and three male adults. One person was unhurt.
“A total of three persons were killed, all male adults.
“The suspected causes of the multiple crashes were excessive speed which led to the loss of control on the part of the Toyota Corolla car, which ran into the motorcycles at the bus-stop while picking passengers.
“The injured victims were taken to Beachland Hospital, Arepo, for medical attention and ROA Hospital, Arepo.
“Two of the dead bodies were taken by the Hausa community at Arepo for burial and the remaining dead person was taken to Divine Touch Hospital morgue.
“The MTD Police, Warewa, Ogun State, took custody of the crashed car and motorcycles and obstruction cleared off.
“The Sector Commander, FRSC, Ogun State, advised motorists to always obey traffic rules and regulations.”
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