No fewer than 11 persons have been confirmed dead in a road accident at Aiyere community, along Bode Saadu-Ilorin Route in the Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kwara State, Stephen Dawulung, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that the accident involved 18 people and occurred at 4:50 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

Dawulung said of the 18 people, 11 persons died on the spot while seven others suffered varying degrees of injury.

He said: “Preliminary investigations revealed that on Tuesday, January 2, a crash occurred around 4:50 a.m. due to wrongful overtaking and speed violation.

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“A Toyota Hiace Bus coming from Gombe en route Lagos wrongfully overtook another vehicle resulting in a head-on collision with an oncoming DAF truck.

“On receiving the report of the crash, our operatives at the Help and Rescue Camp established at Bode Saadu to fortify rescue operations during the end-of-year special patrol operations were immediately mobilised.

“They hurried to the crash scene for rescue operation, which was carried out in conjunction with men of the Nigerian Police Force, Divisional Headquarter, Bode Saadu.”

The FRSC commander added that the injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Dawulung, who sympathised with the families of the dead and prayed for quick recovery of the injured ones, enjoined drivers to drive within the stipulated speed limits, avoid night journeys, and long hours of driving without adequate rest.

He said violations of such rules of driving could result in crashes with high fatalities.

He assured that the FRSC would continue to discharge its primary responsibilities of curbing road traffic crashes with the highest level of proficiency and professionalism, to ensure the safety of all road users.

The Star