At least 13 people lost their lives in a road accident on Ikare-Akoko/Owo road on Saturday in Ondo State.
The state sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Samuel Ibitoye, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Akure, the state capital.
“FRSC regrets to inform the public about a road traffic accident that occurred today, December 28, 2024 at Abule Panu before Ose Bridge, Owo-Ikare Expressway, Ondo State.
“The fatal accident that occurred around 10:14 in the morning claimed the lives of 13 passengers of two buses.
“In total 14 people were involved, of which 13 were burned beyond recognition, while only one was rescued alive with serious injuries.
“A witness' account indicates that the bus coming from the Ikare axis had a tire burst, causing it to lose control.
“This caused a head-on collision with the cloth-laden bus coming from Owo axis.
“Immediately after the collision, the two buses caught fire. The men of the FRSC, police and fire brigade rushed to the accident site to be rescued,” the statement read.
According to him, the injured victim was shifted to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, while the deceased were deposited at the mortuary of the same hospital.
Ibitoye advised drivers to be patient on the roads and passionately maintain their vehicles.
He also encouraged passengers to speak out against dangerous driving, highlighting that road safety is everyone's concern.