Tragedy: 2 die in early morning accident in Akure

Tragedy struck at dawn on Wednesday in Akure, when a commercial motorcyclist conveying a passenger to the hospital crashed into a stationary truck resulting in the death of the two.

The accident, which occurred at 5.45a.m., on the Airport Road, Oba-Ile in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, later attracted motorists, commercial motorcyclists and passersby who gathered to mourn the loss.

A source, who did not want his name mentioned, told our correspondent that the accident occurred opposite the residence of Chief Olu Falae in Akure.

The source said that, a truck owned by a block-making industry broke down beside the road two days ago, but was not moved.

“The commercial motorcyclist who was coming from the Oba-Ile axis and going to Akure with full speed hit the stationary vehicle,” the source said.

Another source told our correspondent that the commercial motorcyclist came to Oba-Ile from Akure to convey a passenger, who was ill, to the hospital before the tragedy occurred.

“The commercial motorcyclist was one of our colleagues living in Akure. He came to pick a brother, who had been sick for some time, to the hospital.

“The motorcycle did not have any lights and the rider only used a touch to illuminate the darkness before the accident happened

“The commercial motorcyclist and his passenger died on the spot after hitting the truck in spite of the ‘C caution’ and some blocks placed on the road” the source said.

SP Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Ondo State, who confirmed the incident to NAN, said that the corpses had been deposited at the morgue at the specialist hospital, Akure.

Odunlami-Omisanya advised motorists to always exercise caution whenever they were behind the wheels.

“What happened was that the stationary vehicle was parked on the roadside because it had a mechanical fault. It was the commercial motorcyclist that ran into the vehicle.

“Everybody needs to be careful. I cannot, however, confirm whether the motorcyclist was on high speed or not,” the PPRO said.