Three three traditional rulers have died in an auto crash that occurred in Ogbomoso on Friday, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed.
Speaking with journalists in Ibadan on Saturday, FRSC sector commander in Oyo State, Joshua Adekanye, attributed the cause of the auto crash to speed violation and wrongful overtaking.
According to Mr Adekanye, two vehicles involved were a white M/Benz E230 car with registration number ‘OLODOGBO’ and a white Scania truck with registration number MUS 301 XF.
He said that six people were involved in the accident; three died and the others were injured.
“The injured victims were taken to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso while the corpses were deposited at the same hospital morgue,” Mr Adekanye said.
A witness, Samuel Oloruntoba, however, said that the traditional rulers of Odogbo, Bowula, and Ayetoro communities in Orire local government areas of Oyo state died in the accident
According to Mr Oloruntoba, the victims were on their way to a funeral party of another traditional ruler’s relation in the area when the accident occurred at Arinkinkin area of Ogbomoso.
He said the deceased traditional rulers’ Mercedes Benz rammed into an oncoming truck which resulted in the death of the Obas.
In another accident nine passengers sustained varying degrees of burns in an auto crash on Ogbomoso-Oyo Expressway.
Adekanye said the accident, which occurred on Saturday, involved a trailer and a truck at Sekona area along Ogbomoso – Oyo Expressway, adding that nine out of the total 13 people involved in the accident got burnt while four others escaped unhurt.
“The accident happened around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, and the truck vehicle caught fire while the trailer collided with it.
“The actual cause of the truck which went on fire could not be ascertained because it happened at night,” he said.
He, however, said the likely cause of the trailer colliding with the truck might be speeding and wrongful overtaking.
According to him, the burnt victims are being referred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital for treatment, adding that the RS11.31 Ogbomoso and RS11.312 Oolo Commands conducted a rescue operation.
“Other agencies that carried out the rescue operation are the Fire Service and Odo-Oba Police Division,” he said.
Mr Adekanye called on motorists to shun night travelling, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving to ensure safety on the road.
