Driver slumps on wheel, dies in Osun accident
By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo
A yet-to-be identified driver of a mini commercial bus popularly called “Korope”, reportedly died in an accident on the Olaiya overhead bridge in Osogbo.
The crash which occurred on Wednesday evening, involved two vehicles ; a mini Intercity bus with number plate FNN836XA and a private Toyota Camry with number plate LND546FC.
Five persons; one male and four female passengers were involved in the accident. Three were rescued and taken to the hospital for medical treatment.
An eyewitness, Mrs Funmi Adeyemo, told our correspondent at the scene of that the accident occurred when the intercity bus driver allegedly slumped over the wheel.
She said that the bus veered off the road and collided with a vehicle parked by the roadside, resulting in the death of the driver, while some passengers sustained severe injuries.
According to her, one of the passengers attempted control the bus before it collided with a Toyota Camry car parked by the roadside,”
She added that another passenger jumped out of the moving bus and hit her head on the ground, sustaining injuries on her head and eyes .
”I saw people shouting as the vehicle lost control, but a female passenger managed to steer the vehicle down the bridge before it collided with a vehicle parked on the highway .
Contacted, the Federal Road Safety Corps’ (FRSC) Sector Commander in Osun, Mr Henry Benamaisia, confirmed the accident.
Benamaisia said that the accident occurred in the afternoon, but the swift response of the personnel of the corps to the scene prevented a gridlock on the road.
The sector commander said that the injured passengers were immediately taken to hospital for medical attention while the corpse of the driver was deposited at the morgue.
He appealed to road users to be safety conscious and refrain from consumption of drugs, alcohol or any harmful substances while driving.
“Accordingly, the driver fainted and passed out on the steering while driving and another passenger tried to control the vehicle before they eventual hit a Toyota car”.
