On Wednesday night, a devastating accident occurred in Akungba-Akoko, located within the Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State. The incident involved a catastrophic road accident that tragically claimed the lives of at least ten individuals, including a pregnant woman.
Reports from BusinessDay reveal that a heavily loaded Dangote cement truck lost control and crashed into several shops along the Owo-Akungba-Ikare Akoko expressway. This calamity has plunged the local community and students of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA) into profound grief.
Eyewitnesses described how the truck veered off the highway, smashing into roadside businesses and causing numerous casualties. One bystander recounted, “The truck approached from the upper side. It’s uncertain whether the barricade was open or if the vehicle forced its way through. At least five people have died, and many may still be trapped beneath the wreckage.”
Among the deceased was a pregnant woman whose body was recovered from beneath the debris.
Emergency responders, including members of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), promptly arrived at the scene to assist with victim recovery and clear the wreckage.
FRSC Sector Commander Samuel Ibitoye confirmed the crash, explaining that the Dangote truck, heavily laden with cement bags, collided with a barricade near Adekunle Ajasin University before losing control and crashing.
He added, “The accident resulted in the deaths of at least eight people: five men, two women, and one boy.”
Commander Ibitoye urged all drivers to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on journeys and emphasized the importance of adhering strictly to traffic laws to prevent such fatal incidents.