Tragedy struck on Tuesday morning as six people were killed after a truck lost control and crashed into vehicles and pedestrians at the Old Toll Gate area of the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State.
The Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed that the crash occurred at about 8:00am.
In a statement, the Public Education Officer of the Ogun Sector Command of the FRSC, Afolabi Odunsi, stated that the truck, which was loaded with vegetable oil, suffered brake failure, causing the driver to lose control in the busy toll gate area.
“A tragic road traffic crash occurred today at approximately 08:00 hrs at the Old Toll Gate, Ota. The incident resulted in the deaths of six individuals and injuries to others,” Odunsi said.
According to him, the articulated vehicle rammed into two other vehicles and bystanders.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the truck suffered mechanical brake failure. Six adults—five males and one female—were confirmed dead, while two adult males sustained varying degrees of injuries,” he added.
Odunsi said the injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Ifo General Hospital morgue.
He added that the Chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Wasiu Lawal, who visited the scene, ordered the immediate removal of roadside traders around the Old Toll Gate to prevent future tragedies.
“To forestall a recurrence at this high-risk corridor, the chairman directed the immediate dislodgement of illegal traders occupying the road verges and pledged the council’s support to the FRSC and other security agencies in enforcing the directive,” Odunsi said.
The Sector Commander, Corps Commander Akinwunmi Fasakin, also urged drivers—especially operators of articulated vehicles—to ensure thorough mechanical checks before embarking on journeys.
Also, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, corroborated the incident, adding that the truck driver fled the scene.
He identified the vehicles involved as a Mack truck with registration number EKY 913 YH, a Suzuki minibus with number plate SMK 16 YK, and a tricycle with number plate AAA 840 QM, attributing the crash to reckless speeding.
“The crash occurred when the driver of a Mack tanker truck, travelling from Ota towards Lagos, drove at excessive speed and rammed into several vehicles, including a tricycle and pedestrians,” Akinbiyi said, adding that six people died while three others sustained injuries.
He said the truck had been towed to a nearby police division, while emergency responders managed traffic and restored normalcy to the area.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said an investigation had commenced into the cause of the crash.
“This morning at about 0930hrs, a fatal motor accident occurred at Ilo-Awela Junction, Toll Gate, along the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway involving a Mack tanker truck, a Suzuki bus, a tricycle and pedestrians,” she said.
She added that several victims were rushed to the General Hospital, Ota, where six were later confirmed dead, while others were receiving treatment. The deceased, she said, had been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.
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