Two people have died in a fatal road crash that occurred on Wednesday in the Ijapo area of Akure, Ondo State.
The accident involved a Nissan car with registration number Ondo WWW 322 TA, an unregistered truck, and a motorcycle. Two other individuals were injured in the incident.
The crash reportedly happened directly in front of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) headquarters, where officials were carrying out routine checks on vehicles and licences at the time.
According to reports, the deceased were brothers riding on a motorcycle when a speeding truck lost control and struck both the car and the motorcycle, leading to their immediate death.
A commercial driver whose vehicle was also damaged in the crash said he narrowly escaped being killed. Speaking anonymously, he recounted:
“I came to deliver goods to my boss, but the shop was yet to open, so I parked my vehicle. As I was moving towards the boot to bring down the goods in front of the shop, I suddenly heard people shouting.
“When I looked back, I saw the tipper clearing vehicles and motorcycles. I immediately ran for my life. You can see how badly my vehicle was damaged. The tipper crushed the two men on the motorcycle instantly.”
Residents were reportedly angered by the incident and attempted to attack VIO officials, who they believed were linked to the crash, but police intervened to prevent violence.
The Ondo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Samuel Ibitoye, confirmed that the crash was caused by brake failure. He stated, “The accident occurred as a result of brake failure, four persons were involved, while two were killed . The corpses of the deceased were deposited at Ondo State Hospital Mortuary by the men of the Nigeria Police Force.”
The state police command also confirmed the incident, noting that preliminary findings showed the tipper truck collided with both the motorcycle and the Nissan car from behind, resulting in the fatalities.
Police spokesperson DSP Abayomi Jimoh added that officers responded quickly, documented the scene, and ensured order was maintained as angry youths attempted to attack VIO officials.
He further said: “The motorcycle rider and his yet-to-be-identified passenger were immediately rushed to the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Akure, where they were both confirmed dead by medical personnel on duty.
“In the aftermath of the incident, some angry youths attempted to attack officials of the VIO who were present there over the unfortunate development. However, police personnel at the scene acted promptly and professionally to prevent a breakdown of law and order, ensuring that the situation was brought under control without further escalation.”
He added that the bodies had been taken to the hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy, while the vehicles and motorcycle involved had been moved to the police station for further investigation.
In a related incident, two people died earlier in the week in Jos South, Plateau State, after a trailer and a Toyota Corolla collided, leaving three others injured.