FIVE people have been confirmed dead and two others injured following a tragic road accident that occurred yesterday morning near Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The crash, which happened around 9 a.m. at a junction before the Ilu-Abo community in Akure North Local Government Area, involved a Nissan Sunny car and a DAF tipper truck.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander in Ondo State, Samuel Ibitoye, the victims—comprising one man, three women, and a young girl—were traders heading to Ogbese market to sell their goods when the incident occurred. He attributed the cause of the crash to excessive speeding.
“Seven people were involved. Five lost their lives—one male adult, three female adults, and one female child—while two others sustained injuries,” Ibitoye confirmed.
He said the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, by FRSC personnel from the Owo Unit Command.
Expressing concern over the rising rate of road accidents in the state, Ibitoye said the FRSC has intensified its engagement with truck and tipper drivers along the Akure-Ogbese corridor to promote safer driving.
He urged motorists to maintain their vehicles properly and adopt defensive driving habits, especially during the ember months.
“Drivers must take responsibility for safety on the roads. Caution and discipline behind the wheel can save lives,” he advised.
The Ondo crash came just hours after another fatal accident on the Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where a policeman and five others were killed following a multiple-truck collision that caused heavy gridlock across parts of Ogun and Lagos states.