No fewer than nine lives were lost in two auto crashes that occurred in Kogi State and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at the weekend.
While five persons drowned on Friday as a car plunged into a canal in Oga community in Kogi State, an accident involving two vehicles on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway claimed four lives.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Kogi incident occurred in Yagba West Local Government Area of the state at about 4.30 pm.
The Chairman of Yagba West Local Government Council, Pius Kolawale, who confirmed the incident to NAN, described it as very sad and unfortunate.
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Mr Kolawale, however, confirmed that one of the five occupants of the car escaped death as he swam to safety, aided by a fisherman, who unfortunately also drowned.
“Among the dead are three ladies and two men, including the fisherman.
“The five of them were coming from Oga community on their way to Lokoja.
“Unfortunately, just along the canal where there is a very sharp corner, they lost control and went straight into the canal.
“Only one of the occupants of the car escaped while four died, including three ladies.
“The fifth person that died was a good Samaritan, a fisherman, who tried to save them but died in the process,” he told NAN.
The accident on the Lagos Ibadan Expressway, which occurred at about 04.53am yesterday around Mountain Top University section of the highway, involved two vehicles including an RX350 SUV with registration number KTU738HM and a truck marked T21024LA.
Florence Okpe, the Chief Route Commander and Federal Road Safety (FRSC) Public Education Officer for the Ogun Sector Commander, Ahmed Umar, attributed the accident to “excessive speed and use of phone while driving which led to loss of control on the part of the Lexus driver.”
Okpe stated that the Lexus rammed into the moving truck.
According to her, the remains of the deceased persons had been deposited in the morgue at Real Divine Hospital, Ibafo, Ogun State.