By Deborah Nnamdi
No fewer than six persons have died while two others sustained injuries in a multiple road crash that occurred around 8 a.m. on Tuesday at the Old Toll Gate, Ota, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State.
The accident involved an articulated vehicle, a vegetable oil tanker with registration number EKY 913 YH, and two other vehicles.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps, the tanker reportedly suffered brake failure while navigating the busy toll gate area, causing the driver to lose control and ram into other vehicles and bystanders.
The spokesperson for the Ogun State Sector Command of the FRSC, Afolabi Odunsi-Oyewole, confirmed the incident in a statement issued to journalists on Tuesday.
“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 two others,” he said.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the articulated vehicle suffered a mechanical brake failure. The driver subsequently lost control and rammed into the other vehicles and bystanders. Six adults — five males and one female — were confirmed dead, while two others sustained varying degrees of injuries.”
Odunsi-Oyewole added that FRSC rescue teams promptly evacuated the victims to Ota General Hospital. The injured are currently receiving treatment, while the remains of the deceased have been deposited at the Ifo General Hospital morgue.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area visited the scene to commiserate with the families of the victims.
To prevent a recurrence at the high-risk corridor, the council boss ordered the immediate removal of illegal traders occupying the road verges around the Old Toll Gate and pledged the local government’s support to the FRSC and other security agencies in enforcing the directive.
The Ogun State Sector Commander of the Corps, Corps Commander Akinwunmi Fasakin, urged motorists, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles, to ensure thorough mechanical checks of their vehicles before embarking on any journey, reiterating the Corps’ commitment to safeguarding lives and property.
