• Saturday, August 31, 2024
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Tragedy on Oyo expressway: 3 Traditional rulers perish in head-on collision

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Three traditional rulers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State met a tragic end on Friday when their vehicle collided head-on with a commercial truck along the Ogbomoso-Oyo Expressway.

The monarchs, identified as Olodogbo of Odogbo, Onibowula of Bowula, and Alayetoro of Ayetoro, were reportedly on their way to a social function when the accident occurred. Two of the monarchs died instantly, while the third succumbed to his injuries hours later at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander for Oyo State, Joshua Adekanye, confirmed the incident, stating that the crash involved a Benz E230 with number plate OLODOGBO and a commercial Scania Truck with registration number 301 XF.

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According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred at Aje Iye in Oriire’s local government area. Six occupants of the Benz E230 were involved in the crash, with three survivors currently undergoing treatment at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital.

Horrific incident highlights road safety concerns

In a separate incident on the same day, nine out of 13 passengers sustained varying degrees of burns when a truck caught fire on the Ogbomoso-Oyo Expressway. Thankfully, no lives were lost in this incident, but the injured individuals received medical attention.

These tragic events have once again brought the issue of road safety to the forefront of public discourse. The FRSC has repeatedly warned motorists against overspeeding, reckless driving, and overloading vehicles, significantly increasing the risk of accidents.

The loss of three esteemed traditional rulers is a profound loss for the Oriire community and Oyo State. Their untimely demise is a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for all road users to exercise caution and adhere to traffic regulations.