Truck accident near Ondo varsity leaves at least 8 dead

 

At least eight people are dead after a truck rammed into some shops near Adekunle Ajasin University in Ondo.

The accident, an eyewitness told TheCable, occurred on Wednesday night at Akungba Akoko, in Akoko South-West LGA of the state.

The witness said the truck, laden with bags of cement, lost control along the Owo-Akungba-Ikare Akoko expressway and crashed into several shops.

The impact, they added, killed multiple victims instantly.

“The driver lost control of the truck and swerved off the road, ramming into the shops and killing people,” the witness said.

Another source said five people lost their lives immediately in the accident.

“The truck was coming from Ikare. We don’t know if the barricade was open or if the trailer destroyed it. About five people died immediately, and we are unsure how many are trapped under the truck,” another witness said.

The exact death toll is still uncertain as of this reporting.

Among the casualties, TheCable understands, is a yet-to-be-identified pregnant woman whose body was recovered from beneath the vehicle.

Samuel Ibitoye, sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), put the death toll at eight.

He confirmed that the truck collided with a barricade in front of Adekunle Ajasin University before losing control and crashing.

“At least eight people died, including five males, two females, and one male child,” he said.

The remains of the victims, he said, have been taken to a local hospital morgue.

Ibitoye urged motorists to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and to obey traffic regulations to prevent such tragedies from occurring.