A tragic hit-and-run incident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway claimed the life of a female passenger on Wednesday evening. The accident, which occurred at around 6:17 p.m., involved a fully loaded Toyota Hiace bus and an unidentified truck.
The collision took place near the Lenuwa Village corridor, leaving several passengers injured and one woman dead.
According to reports from the Ogun State Police Command, the crash occurred when the truck, which had been parked at a nearby trailer park, entered the busy expressway at high speed without checking for oncoming vehicles.
The driver of the truck, whose identity remains unknown, reportedly fled the scene after the collision. The passenger bus, which was traveling from Lagos to Ibadan, collided with the truck, causing significant damage and injuring several of its passengers.
Authorities confirmed that the injured passengers were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. However, despite the efforts of medical staff, one female passenger was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Ogun State Police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the news, stating, “The passengers sustained severe injuries and were taken to Idera Private Hospital in Sagamu, where the doctor on duty pronounced one of the female passengers dead on arrival.”
The identity of the deceased remains unknown, as the police have not been able to confirm her address. The body has since been moved to the hospital’s mortuary while investigations continue into the incident. “The body has been removed and placed in the hospital mortuary,” Odutola added.
This fatal crash is part of a series of incidents that have plagued the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in recent days. Earlier on the same day, two people lost their lives in another accident along the expressway in the Straight Gate area.
The crash involved a Mitsubishi Canter truck, and according to Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) Commandant Seni Ogunyemi, the cause was excessive speeding.
The rising number of accidents on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has sparked concerns over road safety, particularly with the ongoing issue of reckless driving and hit-and-run incidents. Authorities have urged drivers to exercise caution and adhere to traffic regulations to prevent further loss of life.
As investigations into the hit-and-run accident continue, the Ogun State Police have promised to intensify efforts to track down the truck driver responsible for the crash.
Meanwhile, the surviving victims of the Toyota Hiace bus crash remain in the hospital, receiving medical attention for their injuries.
