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A head-on collision between a Toyota Hiace bus and a passenger car on Saturday along the Ife-Ilesa Expressway in Osun State claimed three lives and left 20 others injured.
The casualties, two females and one male, according to findings, died at the scene near the Tonkere axis.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed that the crash involved a total of 23 passengers, including three children.
Osun State FRSC Sector Commander, Sunday Adebayo, stated that rescue teams arrived within five minutes of receiving a tip-off from a member of the public.
“We mobilized patrol vehicles from both Ilesa and Ife immediately. The response was swift because our officers were already on routine patrol,” Adebayo said.
He said first responders deposited the remains of the deceased at the Wesley Guild Hospital morgue in Ilesa, while emergency crews transported the 20 injured victims to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital and the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Ile-Ife for treatment.
Officials noted that several survivors suffering minor injuries were treated and discharged.
Adebayo attributed the fatal crash to excessive speeding and dangerous driving, emphasising that the road conditions at the time should not have led to such a high number of fatalities.
“Speeding kills. If drivers travel at lower speeds, even when an incident occurs, the impact and casualties are significantly reduced. Nigerians must adopt a mindset of shared responsibility and respect for other road users,” Adebayo said.
Authorities have towed both vehicles to a nearby police station in Ile-Ife, and traffic flow along the expressway has been fully restored.
