No fewer than three persons were killed in an auto crash involving a 16-seater bus and an articulated vehicle at Celica bus stop, Ife-Ibadan Expressway in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday.
The tragedy, which struck early in the morning, was confirmed by the state police command and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
While the FRSC and the police gave the number of those killed in the accident as three, eyewitnesses said eight persons died in the ill-fated commercial bus.
According to eyewitnesses, the truck lost control after its brakes failed and collided with the bus coming from Osun State.
The driver of the bus also reportedly died instantly while some others in the bus were injured.
It was learnt that there was no one to rescue them as the accident happened just before dawn and it was still dark.
An eyewitness blamed the accident on the ongoing construction works going on at some sections of the road, forcing motorists to drive against traffic.
When contacted, the Oyo State FRSC Sector Commander, Mrs Uche Chukwurah, confirmed the accident, but said only three people died in the crash.
The FRSC Sector Commander stressed that the accident claimed the lives of two males and one female.
Also, the public relations officer of the state police command, Gbemiga Fadeyi, insisted that it was three people who died in the accident.
He said, “In the accident that occurred at Celica area of Ibadan/Ife Expressway today, 12/01/2021 at about 0700 hours involving an Iveco truck and Mazda bus, three passengers in the Mazda bus died immediately while four sustained injuries and were rushed to the University College Hospital, Ibadan for medical attention. Investigation has commenced,” he said.
