Day of Horror On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

The Lagos/Ibadan Expressway has been dubbed
in some quarters as a highway of horror due to
the frequent fatal auto accidents that have

occurred there. This possibly explains why
commuters usually engage in passionate prayer
sessions before embarking on a journey through
that seemingly accident-prone road.
Penultimate Tuesday witnessed another ghastly
accident on the expressway that claimed several
lives, prompting unrestrained wailing from
shocked road users and sympathisers. Even law
enforcement agents appeared unsettled by the
high fatality of the multiple accident which was
accompanied by an inferno.
All the passengers and drivers of three vehicles
involved were roasted to death. They were said to
be journeying to an unknown destination, possibly
to Lagos, when the accident occurred.
The incident also resulted to a traffic jam which
lasted for hours. It was a development that many
road users will not forget in a hurry as they
groaned and cursed to no avail.
Indeed, many had initially thought it was caused
by a robbery attack and quickly scampered to
safety. It was later they learned it was a multiple
auto crash resulting into an inferno that almost
went beyond control.
Eye witnesses said some drivers also abandoned
their cars and ran inside the bush for safety. It
was only later they summoned courage to come
out of hiding on learning the real cause of the
gridlock.
But the tragedy was one nobody expected. It was
about 3.30pm when a Cabstal bus which was
heading towards Lagos around Danco pump
station reportedly hit a pole. The impact left the
bus with a severe damage and the driver and
passengers severely injured.
As soon as the accident occurred, some law
enforcement agents were said to have
immediately moved to the scene on rescue
mission. As this was ongoing, a Golf car with
three passengers which was travelling on a high
speed was said to have rammed into the
damaged bus leading to an inferno which burnt
all the passengers beyond recognition.
As if this was not enough, another lone occupant
of a Coastal bus belonging to the Nigeria Post
and Telecom Services, NIPOST, also rammed into
the burning car leading to the driver’s death.
An eye witness said traffic law enforcement
agents, including those of the Federal Road Safety
Corps, FRSC and Ogun State Traffic Compliance
and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, had immediately
raced to the scene. However, even though the
Ogun State and Federal Fire Services were
alerted, they could not do much to save the
situation as the victims were burnt beyond
recognition before their arrival.
An eye witness, Mr Salako Adeola, said while
some road users were lamenting the tragic
incident, others profusely thanked God for sparing
them.
The Public Relations Officer of TRACE, Babatunde
Akinbiyi, who confirmed the development to
Vanguard Metro, urged road users to be careful at
this point in time. Babatunde blamed the incident
on over speeding, adding it would have been
prevented if the drivers had observed traffic rules.

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