18 passengers feared killed as bus catches fire along Ijebu- Ode

No fewer than eighteen passengers have been feared killed in auto crash which occurred at RCC yard axis along Ijebu- Ode – Benin-Ore Expressway in Ijebu East local government area of Ogun State on Monday, when the bus they were travelling which carried a keg of petrol caught fire.

The accident occurred when the driver of Toyota Hiace, white colour with registration number XA 690 AKU on top speed suddenly approached failed portion of the road, and in attempt to avoid it lost control and the keg of petrol inside the bus fell down.

The Ogere Command of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance Agency (TRACE) said eyewitness explained that the petrol which poured on the floor of the bus later dropped on exhaust pipe, hence, there was fire explosion while the bus was on transit.

The spokesperson of the agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi who confirmed the incident said the presumed dead were burnt beyond recoginition, adding that the partially burnt driver of the bus was rescued to Rona Hospital in Ijebu Ode

‘According to eye witness account and was corroborated by the driver, there was keg full PMS inside the bus, fell on its side when the vehicle got to failed portion of the road. The PMS poured on the floor of the bus and later dropped on exhaust pipe and caused the vehicle to caught fire on transit’, Akinbiyi added.

‘Number of presumed dead:18 passengers, (though the victims burnt beyond recognition but other drivers confirmed that the bus passed them with full load). The partially burnt and injured driver rescued to Rona Hospital in Ijebu Ode and presumed dead deposited at State Hospital Mortuary, Ijebu Ode by FRSC’, he added.

The Ogun State Traffic Compliance Agency (TRACE) explained that as at the time of filing this report, the traffic which was initially affected has been put in order, adding that the road is now free for vehicular movement.