News

December 29, 2011

1 dead as 2 cars plunge into river in Ogun

By DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA— Tragedy Struck  on Tuesday evening, when two cars reportedly plunged into a river  along the Ondo-Benin road, precisely at  Ososa- Ijebu, in Odogbolu Local Government Area  of Ogun State.

One of the cars was retrieved with one of the passengers dead while others sustained injuries.

However, there was  anxiety, as one of the cars with uncertain number of occupants, was said to have sunk after it fell into the river and could not be evacuated from the river by  the rescued team 24 hours after .

Confirming the incident, the Traffic Compliance  and Enforcement Corps, TRACE, Commandant in IJebu zone, Kunle Ajibade told Vanguard on phone that, the incident  which occurred at 4:03 pm on Tuesday,  involved two cars.

He  disclosed that it was an hectic task for the TRACE, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Fire brigade  and  Policemen  from Odogbolu and Ijebu-Ode, before  the  three occupants of a Camry model car  could be rescued after it plunged into the river .

Ajibade, while giving the details of the incident said, “I have the video  clip of the incident.

“The two vehicles fell into the river, but, one was lucky as it stopped at the river bank, it had three male occupants, one was dead, one was  unconscious and the third conscious, the injured  have been taken to hospital.

“The other vehicle is still  in the river, with  all the occupants. We  will  monitor it, hoping to see the vehicle and the occupants  floating  in the next three days” he said, while adding that,  he is in possession of the mobile phone of one of those taken to the hospital .

He further said  that, the accident would have been averted, if the two drivers had been patient with each other, saying that, their action had led to the loss of  innocent lives.

Findings  however showed that, the accident caused a  traffic  snarl on the highway as the men of the TRACE and other agencies  were busy controlling the traffic.

Ajibade, who told the Vanguard that,  some   eyewitnesses told him that,  the driver of one of the cars  which carried  the occupants that  were rescued was  driving against the traffic, which caused the accident.

He said: “Let me tell you one thing, the simplest way to die, is to drive against the traffic. And anyone doing that is either the person is suffering from psychological problem or the person is ready to die.

“My humble advice to all road users is to be patient on the road as who drive safely, gets home safely.”

As at the time of filing this report, the plunged car was yet to be evacuated from the river, while  fear has gripped  some people whose relatives  plied the road.