In a devastating accident on the Ijebu-Ode/Ore Expressway, 18 passengers tragically lost their lives after being burned beyond recognition. The fatal incident, which occurred in the Ogbere area of Ijebu East Local Government, has sent shockwaves through the Ogun State community.
The accident involved a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number XA 690 AKU. According to reports from the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), the bus was carrying passengers when disaster struck. A jerry can filled with PMS (petrol) reportedly fell over as the bus hit a bad patch of road, spilling fuel across the bus floor. The highly flammable fuel made contact with the vehicle’s exhaust pipe, igniting a fire that quickly engulfed the bus.
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The tragedy claimed the lives of all 18 passengers, leaving them burned beyond recognition. One individual, the driver, narrowly escaped death but sustained severe burns. He was rescued and rushed to Rona Hospital in Ijebu Ode for urgent medical treatment. The bodies of the deceased have been transported to the State Hospital Mortuary in Ijebu Ode.
TRACE’s Public Relations Officer, Babatunde Akinbiy, confirmed the incident in a statement released from Abeokuta, the state capital. He extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and used the opportunity to caution drivers against storing fuel in jerry cans inside vehicles.
