By Kayode Olabanji

A ghastly motor accident, which occurred yesterday evening at the busy Arakale Market road in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has claimed the lives of two persons and left many others injured.

The tragic incident, which happened at about 6:00pm, took place at the Provision Line, a commercial hub in the market, causing chaos and sorrow among traders and residents.

According to eyewitnesses, the driver of a private blue car, suspected to be under the influence of alcohol, lost control of the vehicle while descending from the NEPA Road axis, and rammed into the crowd at the marketplace.

An ice cream vendor and some commercial motorcyclists were among the casualties, as their stalls and motorcycles were severely damaged in the crash.

A popular commercial motorcyclist, identified as Bobo, who narrowly escaped death, had his motorcycle damaged in the accident.

“It was like a scene from a movie,” Bobo narrated. “The car was speeding from the NEPA side, and before anyone could understand what was happening, it rammed straight into people. The stench of alcohol from the driver’s mouth was strong, he looked completely dazed.”

While some attributed the crash to drunken driving, another eyewitness suspected the cause to be brake failure.

Sympathisers trooped to the scene, as the corpses of the deceased were conveyed to the morgue of the State Specialist Hospital, Akure.

Those who sustained injuries in the accident are said to be receiving treatment at different hospitals across the city.

As at the time of filing this report, the identity of the driver had not been officially released.

Meanwhile, the tragic development has prompted residents and traders to call for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, particularly around the market areas, urging relevant authorities to curb reckless driving and ensure motorists driving under the influence are held accountable.