By Desire Emmanuel
Thirty two persons died while 26 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in three auto accidents that occurred between Sunday and Monday at various highways in the country.
The figures were given by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) late on Monday night as it said the accidents occurred along the Okene-Lokoja highway, Lagos-Ibadan highway as well as Ogbomosho-Oloru Road in Kwara State.
According to the FRSC, the first crash occurred around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday along the Okene-Lokoja highway before Confluence University, Osara, Kogi State.
The crash involved a MAN truck and a Toyota Sienna commercial bus, with 10 persons involved. Seven persons (six male adults and one female adult) lost their lives, while three male adults sustained injuries and were rushed to Abobo General Hospital.
Preliminary investigation by officers of the road traffic agency identified tyre burst as the cause of the fatal crash.
On the same day around 8:00 p.m., another crash occurred at Sapade Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan highway in Ogun State.
The crash was between a truck and a Toyota Hiace bus with 18 persons involved. 10 persons (nine male adults and one male child) died, six persons (four male adults and two female adults) sustained injuries and were rushed to Victory Hospital, Ogere.
Preliminary findings by FRSC officers revealed that speeding, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving were responsible for the crash after the truck created a hazardous situation on the highway.
Also, in the early hours of Monday, tragedy struck again at Oko-Olowo along the Ogbomosho-Oloru Road in Kwara State when a DAF trailer conveying passengers and goods crashed.
The lone crash involved 48 male adults, leaving 15 persons dead, 17 injured and 16 rescued.
While investigation pointed to driver fatigue as the immediate cause of the crash, the death toll was worsened by the illegal and dangerous practice of mixed loading, where passengers were transported alongside goods.
The FRSC warned motorists and drivers that it will sustain aggressive enforcement against all traffic violations that endanger lives as some of the accidents are avoidable if the motorists and drivers are careful on the roads.
