Six people lost their lives while eight others were rescued following a devastating multiple-vehicle crash that triggered a fire outbreak at the Ibadan toll gate section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Authorities attributed the accident to suspected brake failure involving trucks and tankers.
Six persons have been confirmed dead and eight others rescued following a multiple-vehicle accident that occurred at the Ibadan toll gate section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Friday night.
The Oyo State Fire Service Agency disclosed the development in a statement issued on Saturday by its Chairman, Mr. Moroof Akinwande, who said emergency responders successfully rescued eight victims from the scene.
According to Akinwande, the rescued individuals were handed over to officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), led by SRC Adegbite, for medical attention and further care.
He explained that preliminary investigations indicated that the fatal crash was caused by brake failure, leading to a chain-reaction collision involving multiple vehicles.
“The distress call was reported at exactly 9:29 p.m. on Friday, June 19, through a telephone call from CSP Sola Rotimi regarding multiple accidents around the Ibadan toll gate area,” Akinwande said.
He noted that officers of the Oyo State Fire Service Agency, led by Chief Fire Superintendent (CFS) Adesina Soji, responded immediately to the emergency.
“Upon arrival, we discovered that the accident involved six vehicles, including gas tankers, articulated trucks and two cars, resulting in a fire outbreak.
“The crew quickly swung into action, and the fire was restricted from causing further damage to other vehicles and nearby properties,” he added.
The fire service chairman urged motorists to exercise greater caution while driving, especially on highways, stressing that adherence to safety measures could help reduce the frequency of avoidable road accidents.
He also underscored the importance of equipping vehicles with functional fire extinguishers to enable motorists to contain fire outbreaks before they escalate into major incidents.
The tragic accident adds to growing concerns over road safety on major highways, particularly incidents linked to mechanical failures involving heavy-duty vehicles.
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