By Our Reporter
A pregnant woman and at least seven other persons lost their lives on Wednesday night in a ghastly accident at Akungba-Akoko, in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State, when a cement-laden truck lost control and rammed into pedestrians and roadside structures.
The accident, which occurred along the ever-busy Akungba–Owo Road, once again drew attention to the town’s long history of fatal crashes involving heavy-duty vehicles.
Eyewitnesses said the truck was descending the hill leading into the community when it reportedly suffered a brake failure, smashed through a barricade, and veered off the road, crushing several victims in its path.
According to one witness: “The trailer was coming from the top of the hill. We couldn’t say if the barricade was opened because some people said the trailer destroyed it. About five people died instantly, but we don’t know how many others were trapped under the trailer.”
The Ondo State Government had previously installed barricades along the Akungba axis to restrict the movement of articulated trucks following a series of fatal accidents in the area, many of which claimed dozens of lives, including students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko.
Operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), alongside other emergency responders, arrived at the scene shortly after the crash to recover bodies and clear the wreckage.
In an update released by the FRSC, eight people comprising five males, two females, and a male child were confirmed dead. No injuries were recorded, as all the victims reportedly died on the spot.
The agency identified brake failure and loss of control as the primary causes of the accident, and warned drivers of articulated vehicles to always ensure proper maintenance of their vehicles before embarking on long-distance trips, especially on hilly terrains like Akungba.
The tragic incident has once again sparked calls from residents for stricter enforcement of the restriction on heavy-duty trucks within the town and for the construction of alternative routes to prevent further loss of lives.
