By Demola Akinyemi

Ilorin – Tragedy struck yesterday afternoon at Gimba, Kabba-Owode road, along Idofian, outskirts of Ilorin as 14 passengers died in an auto crash.

Eye witness account told Vanguard that the incident was as a result of two 18-seat passenger buses which had head-on collision in an attempt to avoid potholes on the ever busy road.

Vanguard was further informed that one of the affected passenger bus was coming from Ekiti State heading towards Ilorin while the other one was heading towards Osun State from Ilorin.

One of the buses, according to the account, was attempting to overtake while also dodging a  pothole at the middle of the road when it suddenly had a head on collision with the on coming bus.

Ten passengers including the two drivers and those who sat in the front seats of the buses were  reportedly died on the spot while the remaining four died while receiving medical attention at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

Members of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) with the assistance of the villagers reportedly evacuated the corpses from the wrecked vehicles as they had to be axed  before the trapped bodies could be removed.

A top officer of the FRSC  who craved anonymity confirmed the development, saying the corpses have  been deposited in the mortuary of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital while those who sustained various injuries were presently receiving treatment at the same hospital.

When Vanguard visited the emergency ward of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital yesterday, a nurse on duty explained that most of the victims, over 20 of them, who were alive sustained  head injuries, saying they were responding to treatment.