By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

No fewer than five persons, including a female child, have been confirmed dead in a fatal auto crash involving a trailer and a Toyota Hilux along the Ife-Ilesa Road in Osun State.

The unfortunate incident occurred on Saturday morning and was confirmed by the Public Enlightenment Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Osun Sector Command, Mrs. Agnes Ogungbemi, who spoke on behalf of the Sector Commander, Corps Commander Taofeek Sokunbi.

According to Ogungbemi, the white-coloured Toyota Hilux with registration number FKJ 691 HZ was crushed by a white trailer, which had no visible registration number. Out of the nine persons involved in the crash, five were confirmed dead, including a female child.

She explained that the surviving female passenger was immediately taken to Mayowa Hospital, Ipetumodu, for urgent medical attention, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the mortuary of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife.

Ogungbemi attributed the cause of the accident to excessive speeding and a violation of one-way traffic rules by the trailer driver.

The victims comprised six male adults, two female adults, and one female child. She said the road mishap occurred around 10:15 a.m. on Saturday.

The trailer driver was apprehended and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Edun Abon Division. The crashed vehicles were also recovered and taken over by the police.

The FRSC officer revealed that the sum of N508,900 recovered from one of the vehicles involved in the accident had been handed over to relatives of the victims at the scene of the incident in the presence of officers from the Edun Abon Police Division and Toll Gate Police Unit.

Also recovered at the scene were a small bag containing jewellery and bags of clothes.

“The Sector Commander, Corps Commander T.A. Sokunbi, warns road users to desist from route violation and excessive speeding. He further disclosed that the driver is currently in police custody and will be charged to court,” Ogungbemi said.

She further stated that the only surviving woman was travelling with her family and their housemaid when the tragedy struck.

It will be recalled that the FRSC’s Public Education Officer, Mr. Olusegun Ogungbemide, had earlier issued a statement urging all motorists to obey traffic rules and regulations before, during, and after the Easter celebration to prevent avoidable road crashes.