The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) has confirmed the tragic death of 18 passengers in a fatal accident that occurred in the Ogbere area of Ijebu East Local Government, along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore Expressway.
The accident, involving a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number XA 690 AKU, resulted in all passengers being burned beyond recognition, while one individual sustained injuries.
TRACE Public Relations Officer, Babatunde Akinbiyi, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abeokuta, the state capital.
According to Akinbiyi, the accident was caused by an explosion triggered by petroleum motor spirit (PMS) stored in a jerry can inside the vehicle.
“Eyewitnesses and the driver confirmed that a jerry can filled with PMS fell over when the bus hit a bad section of the road. The fuel spilled onto the bus floor and ignited after coming into contact with the exhaust pipe, causing the vehicle to catch fire in transit,” he explained.
The partially burnt driver was rescued and taken to Rona Hospital in Ijebu Ode, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the State Hospital Mortuary in Ijebu Ode.
Akinbiyi advised drivers to avoid storing fuel in jerry cans to prevent similar tragedies, and he extended condolences to the families of the victims.
