At least, seven people have died while seven others sustained varying degrees of injuries on Saturday, Christmas Day, when a Mercedes Benz MarcoPolo Luxury Bus crashed along Sagamu–Benin–Ore expressway.
Sources confirmed that the bus crashed at about 12:20am on Christmas day on Ososa bridge, Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The vehicle reportedly took off from Ojuelegba, Lagos and headed towards the Eastern part of the country before it crashed in the lone accident.
Florence Okpe, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)’s Public Education Officer for Ogun Command, confirmed the incident on Saturday.
According to the statement by Ms Okpe, 63 people, which comprised 40 male adults, 15 female adults, five male children and three female children, were involved in the accident.
She said seven deaths were recorded while seven others sustained injuries.
The FRSC officer identified wrongful overtaking and loss of control as suspected cause of the accident.
Okpe said: “The injured victims were rendered first aid treatment while the deceased bodies were deposited at the State’s Hospital mortuary at Ijebu Ode.
“Nigeria Police Force MTD from Odogbolu were contacted and the crashed vehicle was handed over to the police and obstruction cleared off the road.”
Okpe quoted the Sector Commander, Ahmed Umar, to have cautioned motorists on “dangerous driving especially this period of high vehicular movement and night travel when visibility is poor.”
She also quoted him to have advised motorists to drive defensively, maintain a safe speed, avoid night travels and obey traffic rules and regulations.