Two separate accidents in Ogun and Lagos on Eid-il-Fitr left two dead and 11 injured. A truck’s tyre burst caused a crash in Ogijo, while reckless speeding led to a fatal collision in Maryland. Authorities urge motorists to obey traffic laws.

Two separate road accidents that occurred on Sunday, during the Eid-il-Fitr celebrations, in Ogijo, Ogun State, and the Maryland area of Lagos State, have resulted in the deaths of two individuals while leaving 11 others injured.

PUNCH Metro gathered in a telephone conversation with the spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, that the accident in Ogijo took place around 6 a.m. on Sunday.

According to Akinbiyi, the crash happened when a truck experienced a tyre burst and subsequently collided with a Mazda passenger bus, leading to the death of one person while 11 others sustained injuries.

He further explained that emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, rescuing the injured victims and transporting them to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.

He stated that a fatal accident occurred at the Five Star area in Ogijo at approximately 6:15 a.m. on Sunday. The vehicles involved were a six-tyre truck bearing registration number GBE 243 XB and a Mazda bus with registration number KSF 542 YG.

A total of 13 people were affected by the accident, comprising two occupants of the truck and 11 passengers in the Mazda bus. Unfortunately, one person was confirmed dead, while 11 individuals suffered injuries.

According to the truck driver, the accident was caused by a sudden burst of the front right tyre of his truck, which led him to lose control. As a result, the truck collided with a stationary 18-seater Mazda bus that was in the process of picking up passengers.

Akinbiyi added that the accident led to a buildup of traffic in the area, but the situation was swiftly managed by emergency responders, including TRACE officers, the police, and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

In a similar incident on the same day, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, reported that another accident along the Maryland axis of Lagos State claimed the life of a pedestrian.

Taofiq explained that the accident involved two mini-buses and occurred when one of the vehicles, due to excessive speeding, veered off the road. The bus crashed into another mini-bus and fatally struck a pedestrian who was waiting to board a bus.

He stated that the fatal collision involved two Suzuki mini commercial buses (popularly known as Korope) with registration numbers EPE 279 YJ and BDG 558 YG.

Preliminary investigations indicate that one of the vehicles, as a result of reckless overspeeding, lost control and violently crashed into a stationary mini-bus before tragically mowing down an unsuspecting pedestrian.

Taofiq noted that emergency responders, including LASTMA officials and members of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), promptly arrived at the scene to manage the situation. They ensured the dignified evacuation of the deceased’s remains to the General Hospital, Ikeja.

Reacting to the tragic incident, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased.

Speaking through Taofiq, Giwa emphasized the critical need for drivers to conduct regular vehicle maintenance to prevent avoidable crashes and unnecessary loss of life.

He stated that ensuring road safety is a collective responsibility. Indiscriminate speeding and blatant disregard for traffic laws pose a significant threat to public safety. He urged all motorists to strictly adhere to traffic regulations and operate their vehicles responsibly to prevent needless tragedies on the roads.