Metro/Crime

15 dead, 17 injured in an auto crash as truck driver falls asleep

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Fifteen persons, all males, lost their lives in an auto crash at Muslim cemetery, along Ogbomoso-Oko Olowo route on Ilorin-Jebba expressway, Kwara State.

Report revealed that the fatal crash, which occurred in the wee hours of Monday at about 2:32 am, was a lone accident, involving a trailer vehicle, a DAF XF, with registration number GWL274XC.

The trailer with humongous loads and several owners on top suddenly went off track from the main road while the driver was asleep, causing the long truck to detach from its head while all the loads fell off on the owners.

The FRSC report, which said that a total number of 48 people (all males) were involved in the crash, added that 17 people sustained varying degrees of injury and 16 persons were reported unhurt.

The report also had it that the types of injury sustained include fracture, dislocation and bruises.

The auto crash was confirmed by the FRSC sector commander, Kabiru Babatunde Kazeem, who gave the name of the driver as Nasiru Mohammed.

The FRSC boss said that the injured victims had been taken to Arewa Medical Centre and Baki Hospital for medical attention, adding that the corpses had been handed over to the representatives of the families and Sarkin Hausawa, Oko Olowo, in the Moro local government area of Kwara State.

He said that the search for more victims that were buried under the load was going on, adding that the rescue operation was jointly carried out by personnel of RS8.15 Oloru and RS8. 1 Kwara (Oko Olowo outpost).

Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)sector commander said that the command intended to intensify public enlightenment through the town hall meeting with relevant stakeholders while he advised motorists to avoid mixed loading and night travelling.