Nine people, including a primary school pupil and her mother, have lost their lives while several others were critically injured in an early morning auto crash at Oke-Elesin, Amuloko, in Ona-Ara local government area of Oyo State on Monday.
The accident involved two trucks loaded with Soda drinks, tiles, and two tricycles popularly known as Keke Marwa.
One of the affected trucks, according to an eyewitness account, lost control while descending the popular Oke Elesin Hill and ran over other affected vehicles, including Keke Marwa.
It was gathered that six of the affected victims died on the spot while the injured ones were receiving medical attention at the neighbourhood hospital.
“The accident occurred in the early hours of today. It was caused by the brake failure of the trailer that was descending the slope of the road.
“Having lost control, it crushed a tricycle popularly called Keke NAPEP. Another truck conveying soft drinks was coming from behind; it tried to avoid hitting the trailer in front, and, in the process, hit and crushed another Keke NAPEP.
We learnt that six persons died while five persons sustained injuries. They have all been conveyed away from here,” the source narrated.
Giving his account of the incident, the Managing Director of the Amuloko City Hospital, Dr. Raji Wale, disclosed that four patients were brought into his hospital.
“The accident occurred in the early hours of today (Monday). Six victims were brought here with varying degrees of injury. Some were taken to other hospitals.
“We were able to absorb the ones brought here. Two have been treated as out-patient victims, and they have been stabilized, and they have left. Two kids have been treated, and they are downstairs. One of them, I was told, was in the Keke NAPEP with his mother. But the mother died.
“The other two with severe injuries have been admitted and are being treated. They have been optimized, and we are taking care of them presently,” Dr. Raji said.
When contacted, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Oyo State Command, Mrs. Rosemary Alo, confirmed the accident.
She, however, stated the accident would be officially confirmed after a briefing by her men who were on the field.
As of the time of filing this report, normalcy has returned to the area as Security operatives, including men of Operation Burst, OYRTMA, Police, Road Safety, Amotekun, and local vigilantes, have ensured a free flow of traffic.
