15 die, 17 injured in Kwara trailer's lone accident

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A lone trailer accident on the Ilorin-Jebba expressway in Kwara State has claimed at least 15 lives and left 17 others injured. The victims were all male and reportedly asleep on top of the trailer when it veered off the road. The accident occurred at 2:32 am on Monday.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) report confirmed that the trailer, a DAF XF with registration number GWL274XC, was involved in the fatal crash at Muslim cemetery, along Ogbomoso-Oko Olowo route. The report added that the trailer was carrying humongous loads and several owners on top when the driver fell asleep.

The FRSC sector commander, Kabiru Babatunde Kazeem, said the injured victims had been taken to Arewa Medical Centre and Baki Hospital for medical attention. He also revealed 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.

Kazeem advised motorists to avoid mixed loading and night traveling, and said the command intended to intensify public enlightenment through a town hall meeting with relevant stakeholders.

The search for more victims buried under the load was still ongoing at the time of filing this report. The rescue operation was jointly carried out by personnel of RS8.15 Oloru and RS8.1 Kwara (Oko Olowo outpost).

And, as investigations continue, one can't help but wonder about the root cause of such accidents. Is it due to driver fatigue, inadequate road safety measures, or poor loading practices? The answers will come out in due course.

But the sector commander's warning about mixed loading and night traveling is timely. It raises questions about the safety protocols in place, particularly on long-distance routes like the Ilorin-Jebba expressway.

So, what exactly transpired in the wee hours of Monday morning? How did the trailer lose control, and what were the circumstances surrounding the accident? These are questions that will continue to be asked in the days to come.

Yet, the FRSC sector commander's advice to avoid mixed loading and night traveling is clear. It's a reminder that road safety is everyone's responsibility.