It was a sorry sight along Ife-Ibadan Expressway on Sunday as 11
persons, including children, were burnt to death after their 18-seater
bus collided with a fuel tanker.
The tragedy
which happened around 11am was said to have occurred as the diesel-laden
tanker was trying to drive past the roundabout when the passenger bus,
reportedly rammed into it from behind.
The bus immediately went
up in flames as passengers who had lost consciousnesses due to the way
the bus rammed into the tanker, were suddenly trapped inside.
One
of the residents of Ile Ife, who was at the scene of the crash, told
our correspondent that the Nissan Urvan bus was also loaded with vehicle
spare parts scrap metal, which made it difficult for the passengers to
escape from the burning vehicle.
The resident, who identified
himself as Macdonald Oladipupo, said, “The accident happened opposite
Moremi Estate this morning (Sunday). The tanker was making a U-turn,
while the bus that was coming from Ore rammed into it.
“Nine of
the passengers inside the bus died. A rescue team from the Seventh Day
Adventist Hospital came to rescue others. I learnt that some of them
later died.”
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety
Corps in Osun State, Mr. Anthony Oko, confirmed the accident to our
correspondent on the telephone.
He said, “No fewer than 11
persons died. A tanker was said to be making a U-turn and a bus coming
from Ore rammed into it. The bus caught fire and 11 of the passengers,
including the driver died.
“The bus had 12 passengers and the
remaining passenger of the bus is in danger list at a hospital. I just
pray he survives, but his condition is very bad.
“He suffered third degree burns, but nothing happened to the tanker driver. He ran away immediately after the accident.”
Oko said the driver would be arrested with the help of the police.
He
appealed to drivers to always obey road signs and to make sure that
their vehicles were in good condition before putting them on the road.