By Ola Ajayi

IBADAN— TWENTY-three remains of the victims of a fatal auto crash that occurred on Ibadan-Ife road were given mass burial yesterday in Ibadan.

Two children whose ages ranged from two to three were also among the remains interred by the men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC.

The accident which happened around 6.30 pm on Monday at Asejire area of Osun State involved six vehicles. The occupants were burnt beyond recognition.

The vehicles involved in the accident were Izuzu Truck marked XS 449 AAA, Hummer Toyota bus number XY 639 AAA, OSHA 34, Toyota Hiace XS 103 AKN and Toyota Hiace XS 103 AKN.

While speaking with newsmen, the Oyo State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr.  Godwin Oghagene, said 44 people were involved in the accident, 23 were burnt to death, five sustained serious injuries while the remaining ones escaped unscathed.

He explained that the cause of the accident could be attributed to reckless driving on the part of the tanker driver who was said to have lost control while on a sloppy area.

The truck then skidded off the road and ran into vehicles heading to Ibadan. The commercial bus the truck ran into was said to have caught fire on the spot, burning the 19 passengers beyond recognition.

Also, a Mazda E2000 carrying four passengers on board ran into the tanker leading to the death of all the occupants.
Among the survivors were four policemen who quickly alighted when their vehicle ran into the tanker.