No fewer than 11 persons have lost their lives in a tragic road crash after a vehicle reportedly plunged off the Eruku Bridge along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State.
The fatal accident, which occurred late Sunday night, involved a gold Toyota vehicle bearing registration number GGE 722 KJ.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Afolabi Odunsi, said the vehicle somersaulted before falling off the bridge, trapping occupants inside.
“The incident involved a gold Toyota vehicle with registration number GGE 722 KJ, which somersaulted and fell off the bridge. The impact caused the vehicle doors to lock, trapping the occupants inside,” Odunsi said.
He disclosed that all 11 occupants of the vehicle — comprising 10 adult males and one adult female — died in the crash.
According to him, operatives from the FRSC rescue team attached to the Itori Unit Command were immediately mobilised to the scene after receiving reports of the accident.
Odunsi explained that emergency responders, with assistance from members of the host community, had to dismantle parts of the wrecked vehicle to recover the bodies of the victims.
“FRSC rescue personnel, with support from members of the local community, dismantled the vehicle to evacuate the trapped victims,” he stated.
He added that the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital morgue in Ifo.
Providing preliminary findings on the possible cause of the crash, the FRSC spokesperson said driving under the influence of alcohol and overloading were suspected factors.
“Our preliminary investigation points to driving under the influence and overloading as likely causes of the accident,” Odunsi added.
Reacting to the development, the Ogun State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists travelling along the Abeokuta-Lagos corridor to drive cautiously, especially during night journeys.
“Motorists plying the Abeokuta-Lagos route should exercise extreme caution, particularly at night, to avoid preventable crashes,” Ogunjobi advised.
He also extended condolences to families of the victims, describing the incident as unfortunate and avoidable.
