By Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
At least six people were confirmed dead Tuesday morning, while several others sustained injuries of varying severity in a horrific multiple-vehicle accident at the Sango-Ota Tollgate in Ota, Ogun State.
The incident occurred along the busy Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and involved a Mack tanker truck loaded with groundnut oil, a commercial tricycle popularly called “Marwa,” and a Suzuki mini-bus, also known as “Korope.”
Eyewitnesses said the crash happened when the tanker truck, reportedly traveling from Ota toward Lagos, allegedly drove recklessly and collided with other vehicles, including the tricycle, as well as pedestrians in the tollgate area.
The impact caused panic among commuters and residents, while emergency responders, including TRACE operatives led by Ota Divisional Commander Salau Hammed, worked tirelessly to rescue victims trapped in the wreckage.
The accident also caused massive traffic gridlock on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, leaving motorists stranded for hours and disrupting movement between Lagos and Ogun states.
Confirming the crash, the spokesperson of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Commander Babatunde Akinbiyi, disclosed that no fewer than six vehicles were involved. He listed the affected vehicles as a white-and-green Mack truck (EKY 913YH), a yellow Suzuki mini-bus (SMK 16YK), and a yellow TVS tricycle (AAA 840QM), among others.
Akinbiyi added that the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Ifo State Mortuary, while the injured were rushed to Ogun State Hospital, Ota, for treatment. He urged motorists to strictly adhere to traffic rules and exercise caution on major highways to prevent avoidable tragedies.
