Thirteen passengers were burnt to death in an auto crash at the early hours of Saturday at the Abule Panu, Ose Bridge, on the Owo-Ikare highway in Ondo State
Eyewitness accounts said that 14 people were involved in the accident, with 13 burnt beyond recognition while one survivor was rescued with serious injuries.
The Ondo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Samuel Ibitoye, who confirmed the accident in a statement in Akure, said the crash occurred at about 10:14 a.m.
“The fatal crash, which occurred at about 10:14 a.m., claimed 13 lives from two buses. A total of 14 people were involved, out of which 13 were burnt beyond recognition while only one was rescued with serious injuries,” Ibitoye said.
He noted that an eyewitness reported a tyre burst on one of the buses coming from the Ikare axis, leading to a loss of control and a head-on collision with another bus loaded with fabric from the Owo axis.
He said that the impact caused both buses to burst into flames.
Emergency responders, including officials from the FRSC, Police, and Fire Service, swiftly arrived at the scene to assist with rescue efforts.
The injured victim was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, while the remains of the deceased were deposited at the hospital’s morgue.
Dr. Ibitoye urged drivers to exercise caution, ensure proper vehicle maintenance, and avoid reckless driving. He also encouraged passengers to speak out against unsafe driving practices, emphasizing that road safety is a shared responsibility.
