Road accidents claim 20 lives, FRSC expresses concern

The Federal Road Safety Corps said 20 people lost their lives in traffic accidents on Sunday.

In a statement signed by Corps spokesperson Bisi Kazeem, eight lives were claimed at Ojuelegba Bridge, Lagos State, and another crash that claimed eleven lives at Soka Bridge on Lagos-Benin Highway.

The Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dauda Biu, lamented the fatalities that occurred today and called for efforts to expand the connecting roads under the bridge to accommodate all articulated vehicles.

The statement read: “The Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dauda Biu has expressed deep concern at the deadly crashes that occurred today, Sunday, January 29, 2023, at Ojuelegba Bridge, Lagos State, killing 9 people, and more a crash that claimed 11 lives at the Soka Bridge. on Lagos-Benin highway.

“Although its concerns stem from the recurring container crashes on the Ojuelegba Bridge that have claimed several lives, the Corps Marshal recommends the construction of barricades against articulated vehicles (tankers, trucks, trailers and other heavy vehicles) on the Ojuelegba Bridge as a permanent fix for the recurring crashes.

On the Soka Bridge (Lagos-Benin Expressway), he took the opportunity to warn commuters of route violations (colloquially referred to as “One Way”) and to drive against prescribed legal speed limits on all roads. to drive.

“According to a preliminary fatal accident investigation, the crash in Ojuelegba involved a Mack Truck with a 40ft container numbered KJA 380 KD, which, in addition to excessive speed, also illegally overtook and a Suzuki minibus registered as KTU 921 YD; while the Soka’s avoidable threat involved a truck going against traffic and a Macopolo bus.

“The container mounted on the Mack Truck in Ojuelegba, according to our agents, fell off the truck and landed on the Suzuki minibus full of passengers, obviously leading to the death of 9 of the passengers.

“At the time of this statement, 11 victims were burned beyond recognition at the Soka Bridge, while the Ojuelegba crash involved 13 people, comprising nine men and four women.

“Of the 13 people, nine were killed, consisting of five male adults, one male child, one female child and two female adults.

“Of the four victims who survived the Ojuelegba crash, two were rescued without injuries, while the remaining two suffered various injuries.

“The Corps Marshal, frowning at the incident, explained the importance of barricading the bridge against articulated vehicles and mentioned some of the dangers associated with the continued use of the bridge, while calling for efforts to keep the connecting roads expandable under the bridge to accommodate all articulated vehicles.

“He revealed that FRSC rescue teams in conjunction with other Emergency Management Agencies have removed obstacles from the crash scenes to facilitate movement, while the driver of the Mack Truck has been arrested and handed over to police for further investigation and possible prosecution; also, efforts are in high gear to apprehend the driver who caused the Soka bridge crash.

“The Corps Marshal also reiterated the need for laws to be passed that will bring justice to the victims of these accidents and where such laws already exist, efforts should be made to activate them so that justice is served accordingly for both the drivers and the victims. .”