» Eleven Die As Truck Rams Into Ondo Market «

*Driver, assistant disappear; tanker
crushes FRSC Special Marshal
By Dayo Johnson & Gbenga Olarinoye
NO fewer than 10 persons were killed and
several others injured yesterday as a trailer
reportedly lost control and rammed into a
market at Owena, a boundary town
between Osun and Ondo states.
Also, Osun State coordinator of Federal
Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Special
Marshal programme, Chief S. O. Adewale,
was crushed to death in the same area.
Findings revealed that the trailer was
heading for Akure, Ondo State, from Ilesha
in Osun State when its brake system
developed fault, and the driver manoeuvred
the vehicle into a road side market along
Ilesha-Akure Expressway.
Vanguard learned that many of the victims
of the road accident were traders, artisans
and drivers, all from neighbouring
communities who usually come to transact
businesses once a week on both sides of
the expressway.
Mangled
The trailer was said to have crushed many
of the victims beyond recognition, while
others were left with charred bodies.
Those who were reportedly rescued from
the accident scene were rushed to the
General Hospital in Ilesha, while those
whose condition could not be redeemed
were left at the scene.
The dead bodies were later removed from
the scene by officials of FRSC from Ipetu-
modu division and the police.
The accident resulted in a gridlock on the
expressway, forcing motorists to use bush
paths as alternatives.
Members of the National Union of Road
Transport Workers, NURTW, mobilised
themselves to clear the wreckage of the
accident.
An eyewitness account said the driver of
the trailer and his assistant disappeared into
the crowd for fear of being lynched.
It could not be confirmed if they too
sustained injuries in the crash, but some
youths attempted to set the trailer on fire
after the crash. They were stopped by
some elders in the community.
FRSC’s comment
Contacted, Head of Operations of FRSC, Mr.
Jones Malomo, said the crash was caused
by brake failure.
Malomo, who confirmed that some people
were killed, was, however, not categorical
on the number of deaths recorded.