The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) has confirmed that 18 people died in a road accident in the Ogbere area of Ijebu East local government, along the Ijebu-ode/Ore expressway.
News About Nigeria reports that this is contained in a statement issued by Babatunde Akinbiyi, the public relations officer of the state-owned traffic agency in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
The agency spokesperson said that a Toyota Hiace (XA 690 AKU) crashed, leaving passengers burnt beyond recognition, with one injured.
Akinbiyi said the accident was caused by an explosion triggered by petroleum motor spirit (PMS) stored in a jerry can inside the vehicle.
“Eyewitnesses and the driver confirmed that a jerry can filled with PMS fell over when the bus hit a bad section of the road,” he said.
“The fuel spilled onto the bus floor and ignited after coming into contact with the exhaust pipe, causing the vehicle to catch fire in transit.
“The partially burnt and injured driver was rescued to Rona Hospital in Ijebu Ode, while the dead were deposited at State Hospital Mortuary, Ijebu.”
Akinbiyi cautioned drivers against storing fuel in Jerry cans, citing tragic consequences, and offered sympathies to the bereaved families.
In August, the agency reported a devastating road accident in Abeokuta, resulting in the loss of four lives.
According to Akinbiyi, the tragic incident occurred when a truck collided with motorcycles and passengers in the Enugada area of Lafenwa in Abeokuta.
The spokesperson added that the accident, which also left one person injured, was attributed to brake failure.
