One Person Die In Multiple Accident In Kwara – official

One person reportedly died in a multiple fatal accident along Ilorin-old Jebba road on Monday morning, while several people sustained varying degrees of injury as a government escort vehicle override two tricycles.

However, an eyewitness said that three passengers from two of the commercial tricycles died on the spot at the accident scene.

Our correspondent gathered that the multiple crash, which occurred at Government Secondary School (GSS)-Fate junction, along Ministry of Agric, Ilorin, was said to have resulted from speeding and speed violation.

The Kwara state sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Jonathan Owoade, who confirmed the incident, said that two yellow commercial tricycles and one black escort Toyota Hilux vehicle were involved in the fatal auto crash.

The FRSC boss also said that one female adult passenger of a yellow commercial tricycle died and one minor severely injured in the auto crash.

He said the two victims were rushed to a private hospital near the accident scene, adding that the female adult died, while the minor is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.

However, an eyewitness said that three passengers from two of the commercial tricycles were killed on the spot by the Toyota Hilux escort vehicle, a development that reportedly led to pandemonium.

It was also gathered that tricycle riders out of annoyance at the scene started assulting every uniform men on sight.

The environment was said to be in the state of brouhaha leading to the policemen shooting to scare the tricycle riders wasy from the scene In a measure to ease the traffic that had erupted as a result of the accident.

“One female adult and one female child were rescued from the crash scene of the incident and taken to Olutayo hospital with our patrol vehicle while two of the road marshals were left to control traffic as gridlock was building up. The dead victim had already been evacuated before our arrival.

“Shortly before our patrol vehicle returned from hospital, a report was received that a group of tricycle riders were beating up uniform men around and policemen who came for the rescue were shooting to scare them away.

“The marshals on ground were instructed to leave the scene immediately.

“The angry reaction of the tricycle riders was directed at security personnel because the escort vehicle carrying flashers that crushed the two tricycles belong to security outfits.

The rescue team could not gather other necessary information because of the tensed situation at the crash scene”, the state FRSC boss said.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Mohammed Lawal Bagega,has advised road users in the state to be safety conscious while on the highways and must make use of traffic codes and road signs at all times, reminding the public that life had no duplicate.

The Police boss gave the advice in a statement signed by SP Okasanmi Ajayi, the Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO) on Monday in Ilorin and made a copy to newsmen in Ilorin

Commenting on the multiple accident which happened at about 0900hrs at GSS round about between Kulende/Agric area of Ilorin, Bagega debunked the media reports in some quarters that the crash led to death of some passengers.

According to him, contrary to rumours being peddled on the health condition of the victims, none of the victims died, and that the vehicle involved in the accident belonged to Hillcrest Agro industrial Company, Offa and not to the police or government.

Bagega said the accident involved “a Hilux van driven by one Samuel Adeola of Hill Crest company, Ajase Ipo road Offa, and three tricycles operated by one Hafeez Nurudeen of behind Palace Amoyo, Yusuf Kadiri of Agric junction Oloje and one Hussen Seriki of Gambari area Ilorin and two passengers.

The victims he added, were” Abubakar Aliyu of Irewolede area and one Latifat Kamarudeen of Ganiki area both of Ilorin.

He added: ”The accident occurred when the driver of the Hilux Van and the tricycles,coming from the same direction, lost control and collided with the tricycles which resulted in a serious crash leading to injuries on Yusuf Kadiri,Hussein Seriki and Latifat Kamarudeen.

“The victims already taken to UITH Okeoyi, Ilorin for medical attention and are positively responding to treatment.”

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