12 die in Kwara road traffic accident

A total of 12 persons have been confirmed dead in a road traffic crash involving three vehicles at Peke, along Olooru-Okoolowo-Ogbomoso road, in Kwara.

Those involved in the accident included 21 males and one female, out of which 12 were burnt to death and 10 others who sustained various degrees of injuries were evacuated  to hospital for treatment.

The Kwara Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Stephen Dawulung, confirmed the incident on Wednesday in Ilorin.

Dawulung said that the burnt corpses were given mass burial after consultation with the Hausa community in Okoolowo.

“On receiving the report of the crash, our operatives at Olooru Unit Command were immediately mobilised to the crash scene for rescue.

“Vehicles involved in the accident were a petrol tanker, a trailer and an 18-seater bus.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the empty IVECO tanker coming from Okoolowo committed route violation enroute Ogbomoso, which led to head-on collision with the oncoming DAF truck, which ignited the fire,” he said.

The sector commander said that the bus which was on its way to Katsina and behind the DAF truck, rammed into the crashed vehicles.

He sympathised with families of the deceased and prayed for the recovery of the injured victims.

Dawulung advised drivers to avoid route violation, speeding and night journeys, and ensure they maintain safe distance with other vehicles while on the road.

He said full investigation had commenced into the crash, and assured that the command was committed to ensuring the safety of all road users.