On Tuesday night, a tragic accident claimed the lives of sixteen people on the busy Ore-Ondo highway in the Ajue area of Odigbo Local Government, Ondo State. The incident involved a head-on collision between an 18-seater Toyota Hiace passenger bus and a heavy-duty truck, which resulted in a devastating fire.
According to eyewitness reports, the commercial bus was traveling at high speed when it attempted to overtake another vehicle, leading to the collision with the oncoming truck. “The bus driver was speeding when he tried to overtake. Realizing it was too late, he couldn’t avoid the truck, resulting in a severe impact that caused an immediate fire, trapping many passengers inside,” an eyewitness recounted.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ondo State, Samuel Ibitoye, confirmed the accident and attributed its cause to excessive speed and improper overtaking. He emphasized the importance of defensive driving, urging motorists to adhere to speed limits and remain vigilant to the movements of other vehicles on the road.
Ibitoye reported that three individuals were injured in the crash, while two survived. The response and rescue operation concluded at 11:00 p.m.
