At least 16 people were burnt beyond recognition, while three others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal crash that occurred on Tuesday near Buhari Estate along the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway.
The Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the incident in a statement from its spokesperson, Florence Okpe.
Okpe reported that the incident involved a white Mazda bus transporting a filled gas cylinder. The ensuing explosion, caused by a fire outbreak, resulted in tragic fatalities.
“A total of 21 people were involved in the crash. Sixteen victims were burnt beyond recognition, making it impossible to ascertain their genders at the scene, while three others sustained injuries and were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta.” Okpe said.
Sector Commander Akinwunmi Fasakin, who oversaw the rescue efforts, voiced his dissatisfaction with the driver’s negligence.
Fasakin condemned the choice to carry a filled gas cylinder in a passenger vehicle, emphasising that highly flammable substances should only be transported in designated vehicles operated by trained experts.
The FRSC commander urged drivers and passengers to prioritise safety while expressing his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
