10 die as vehicle falls off bridge into river along Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Expressway

Ten people were confirmed dead while three others sustained injuries after a vehicle plunged into a river along the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Expressway on Friday night.

The incident occurred near the Omu bridge at the Awa Ijebu section of the highway, involving a vehicle carrying 15 passengers. It was gathered that the driver lost control while reportedly speeding, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and fall into the river below.

Footage  showed some passengers lying motionless at the scene as local residents and sympathisers attempted to pull others from the waterlogged vehicle.

A local source, who identified himself as TMC, said that the crash occurred just after the bridge in Awa.

TMC said, “A tragic accident involving an 18-passenger bus en route from Ijebu Ode to Ibadan occurred a few hours ago on the bridge after Awa, with the bus crashing into the river, possibly due to overspeeding, resulting in about 12 fatalities.”

Confirming the incident, spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, said the accident happened at around 8:30 p.m. Friday.

Akinbiyi explained that responders were only able to reach the location in the early hours of Saturday due to access challenges.

He identified the vehicle involved as a Mitsubishi bus with registration number EJ829-LSR.

Akinbiyi added that “according to eyewitness account, wrongful overtaking while on high speed led to failure of the driver to maintain control after noticing an oncoming vehicle.

“The bus driver veered into the bush and rammed into a stone base (gravel) already abandoned on the road beside the bridge, which made the vehicle dive into the river entirely.

“15 people were involved, three injured and 10 (three females and seven males) dead. Two people, including a toddler and an adult, escaped unhurt.”

He said the bodies of the deceased were taken to the morgue at the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital, where the injured are also receiving treatment.

“The bodies of the dead and injured victims have been taken to the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital morgue.

“While TRACE, POLICE, and the FRSC commiserate with the family of the victims, motorists are again warned against excessive speed and night travel given its attendant consequences,” Akinbiyi concluded.

(PUNCH)