A tragic road accident in the Ijapo area of Akure, the Ondo State capital, has claimed the lives of two brothers after a speeding truck reportedly lost control and rammed into multiple vehicles on Wednesday.
The fatal crash involved a Nissan car bearing registration number WWW 322 TA, a truck without a registration number, and a motorcycle conveying the deceased victims.
Two other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the accident.
The incident occurred directly in front of the headquarters of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), where officials were said to be carrying out routine vehicle and licence inspections at the time.
Eyewitnesses said the victims, believed to be siblings from the same family, were riding on a motorcycle when the truck crashed into them and nearby vehicles, killing them on the spot.
A commercial driver whose vehicle was badly damaged during the incident recounted how he narrowly escaped death.
“I came to deliver goods and parked by the roadside because the shop was not yet open. As I moved to offload the goods, people suddenly started shouting. When I turned back, I saw the truck crashing into vehicles and motorcycles. I ran immediately for safety,” he said.
The witness added that the truck crushed the motorcycle riders instantly, leaving a horrifying scene that attracted angry reactions from residents and passersby.
Tension reportedly rose shortly after the incident, with some youths attempting to attack VIO officials whom they accused of contributing to the accident. However, security operatives intervened swiftly to prevent the situation from escalating.
Confirming the crash, the Ondo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Samuel Ibitoye, attributed the incident to brake failure.
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According to him, four persons were involved in the crash while two were confirmed dead.
“The accident occurred due to brake failure. The corpses of the deceased have been deposited at the Ondo State Hospital Mortuary by police officers,” he stated.
The Ondo State Police Command also confirmed the incident, noting that preliminary investigations revealed that the truck rammed into the motorcycle and the Nissan vehicle from behind.
Police spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed that officers responded promptly to the scene to restore order and carry out necessary documentation.
He explained that the motorcycle rider and his passenger were rushed to the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Akure, where doctors confirmed them dead.
Jimoh added that the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the morgue for preservation and autopsy, while the damaged vehicles were taken into police custody for further investigation.