Two adult men have been confirmed dead following a serious lone vehicle crash at the Iwo Road junction, located along the Osogbo-Gbongan highway, on Wednesday.
The Osun State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in a statement released by Security Commander Leye Adegboyega on Wednesday, attributed the cause of the crash to a mechanical fault in the DAF truck that the victims were travelling in.
In a press release shared by Agnes Ogungbemi, the Sector’s Public Education Officer, it was disclosed that fifteen people—thirteen men and two women—suffered injuries during the incident.
Adegboyega explained that early investigations showed the DAF truck’s driver, who was transporting livestock, had been falling asleep behind the wheel.
He stated that “the crashed truck was loaded with approximately 70 animals—including cows, goats, and sheep—as well as human passengers seated atop the animals. The vehicle was reportedly traveling from Kebbi State en route to Ikire, Osun State.
“The driver had dozed off on at least two occasions after the truck passed Osogbo. Upon reaching the Surprise Hotel area in Gbongan, the driver allegedly fell asleep again. As a result, the truck veered off the road and plunged into a roadside ditch, overturning and violently ejecting both animals and passengers.
“Two fatalities were recorded at the scene, while 15 other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries. The injured were promptly transported to a Adeoye Medical Centre, Gbongan for medical attention.”
Adegboyega noted that two of the injured individuals and one of the deceased were taken to Adeoye Medical Centre in Gbongan, while the remaining thirteen injured and the second deceased were taken to Ariremako Medical Centre, also in Gbongan.
He added that the damaged truck has been handed over to the Nigeria Police, Gbongan Division.
The Sector Commander emphasized that “all vehicles that are not road worthy should be off the highway. I urge all motorists to drive carefully.”