Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has deployed Safety Engineers in Akungba, scene of a fatal accident, to ascertain the causes and recommend solutions to incessant trailer crashes that have bedevilled that route.
A truck, which lost its brake, had on Saturday crushed at least nine persons, including students, to death along Ikare-Owo road by Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Ondo State in South-West Nigeria.
In a statement issued by Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, on Sunday, the deployment of the personnel came as part of strategic proactive steps by the corps marshal to forestall further crashes on the highways.
Kazeem said the move was in addition to an Ambulance rescue point earlier established close to the notorious spot for prompt rescue operations.
According to the statement: “The Corps Marshal who spoke on the readiness of the Corps to bring road traffic crashes to an end in Nigeria lamented the fatalities recorded in recent times on our roads, promising that the Corps will double its efforts to eradicate crashes, particularly those by articulated vehicles.”
“While recounting the number of people affected by the multiple crashes, he said that the crashes which were caused by brake failure that resulted in loss of control, involved a Dangote truck, a Suzuki mini bus [XB973KAA] and a Lexus saloon car [KWL 522 AY] conveying a total of 18 passengers comprising 11 female adults and seven male adults.
“Out of the aforementioned number of persons on board the three vehicles, a total of nine persons comprising six female adults and three male adults were killed while a total of nine persons comprising of five female adults and four male adults, sustained various injuries.
“The FRSC rescue team deposited the remains of six of the passengers who got killed at Ikare Specialist Hospital Morgue and took six injured for urgent medical attention at the emergency ward of the same hospital.
“The rescue team of the Nigeria Police Force deposited three dead and four injured at Iwaro General Hospital.
“The entire rescue operations was carried out by a combine efforts of the FRSC, NPF, Big Army, and the DSS,” the statement added.
Oyeyemi reportedly expressed satisfaction with the growing synergy and friendly collaboration of security agencies in Nigeria.
He praised the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Army and the Department of State Services who played a vital role in assisting in the evacuation of the victims and ensuring adequate deployment of men in the area to control traffic around the crash scene.
“With the deployment of these professional and certified safety engineers, I am optimistic that the general factors responsible for road crashes on that route will surely be ascertained, and when that is done, necessary actions will be taking by appropriate agencies,” Oyeyemi was quoted to have said.
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