No fewer than 11 people have lost their lives after a vehicle plunged off the Eruku Bridge along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the spokesperson for the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Afolabi Odunsi.
Odunsi said that the accident occurred earlier in the night.
According to Odunsi, the crash involved a gold Toyota vehicle with registration number GGE722KJ, which reportedly somersaulted and plunged off the bridge.
He noted that all 11 occupants of the vehicle, comprising 10 adult males and one adult female, died in the accident.
Odunsi stated that operatives of the FRSC rescue team from the Itori Unit Command were immediately deployed to the scene following the incident.
“The incident involved a gold Toyota vehicle with registration number GGE722KJ, which somersaulted and fell off the bridge, trapping the occupants inside as the doors locked upon impact.
“All 11 people on board, comprising 10 adult males and one adult female, lost their lives in the crash,” the statement partly read.
He added that FRSC personnel, with support from members of the local community, dismantled the vehicle to recover the bodies of the victims.
According to him, the remains of the deceased were deposited at the State Specialist Hospital morgue in Ifo.
“FRSC personnel, with help from the local community, dismantled the vehicle to recover the bodies. The deceased have been moved to the State Specialist Hospital Morgue in Ifo.
“The preliminary report cites driving under the influence and overloading as the probable causes,” he added.
Reacting to the incident, the Ogun State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Oludare Ogunjobi, advised motorists travelling along the Abeokuta-Lagos route to exercise caution, particularly during night journeys.
He also commiserated with the families of the deceased victims.
“The Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, advised travellers on the Abeokuta-Lagos route to exercise extreme caution, especially when driving at night.
“He also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased,” the statement read.
PUNCH Metro had earlier reported several fatal crashes along major highways in Ogun state, with road safety officials repeatedly warning motorists against speeding, drunk driving, and overloading.
Source: Punch
