Fatal Crash on Abeokuta-Ibadan Highway Claims One Life, Injures Six

A fatal accident on the Abeokuta-Ibadan highway has left one person dead and six others severely injured. The tragic incident took place near Ajobo village in the Odeda local government area of Ogun State, at around 2:30 pm on Tuesday.

Eyewitness reports suggest that the crash was caused by reckless driving. A Lexus ES 350, driven by 26-year-old Abiodun Michael, who was traveling toward Abeokuta from Ibadan, failed to slow down at a sharp bend. Michael lost control of the vehicle, swerving off his lane and crashing head-on into a Zafira 1.8 Space Wagon, driven by 55-year-old Popoola Kayode.

The crash tragically claimed the life of Kayode, who died at the scene, while six of his passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries. The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident on Wednesday, stating that the injured victims were quickly rushed to the General Hospital in Odeda for initial treatment. Those with fractures were later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, for more specialized care.

Despite the severity of the crash, the driver of the Lexus and his passengers fled the scene before authorities arrived. Upon receiving the report, police swiftly dispatched motor traffic officers and patrol teams to secure the area and assist the victims. Investigations are ongoing to locate the fleeing driver and hold him accountable.

The police spokesperson reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring that reckless drivers face legal consequences and urged anyone with information about the whereabouts of the driver or the accident’s details to come forward and help with the investigation. The body of the deceased, Popoola Kayode, was retrieved by his family for burial in line with Islamic customs.