Tragedy was averted on Tuesday, during Sallah day celebration in Ore, Odigbo Local Government area of Ondo State as no fewer than 14 people cheated death.
This is as a gas-laden truck, which was said to be enroute Benin on the ever busy Lagos-Benin expressway fell on a vehicle on the Ore junction area of the road.
According to the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Ondo State Command, Rotimi Adeleye who confirmed the incident, the truck lost control and fell on a 14- passenger bus parked at a restaurant on Ore-Lagos expressway in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state when the occupants of the bus had alighted by the road side.
“A tanker laden with gas lost control, hit the side of the bridge and fell on a 14-seater passenger bus parked in a restaurant at Ore.
“No life was lost, all the passengers in the bus were not inside the vehicle when the crash occurred.
“All the passengers has already alight from the bus to eat in the eatery when the incident occurred,” he said.
The sector commander, who admonished truck drivers to always ensure that stock valve were installed in their articulated vehicles in other to be free from explosion or gas leakage during any crash, maintained that the precautionary measure was the international best practice which prevents explosion and leakage during accident.
“No explosion and gas leakages during the crashes. Imagine what would have happened if the truck driver did not install stock valve in his vehicle,” Adeleye said.
Meanwhile, the sector command had deployed personnel, 17 operational vehicles, four ambulances and three power bikes in Ondo State to ensure free flow of traffic during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
Adeleye emphazied that the deployment was in line with the directive from the FRSC headquarters to ensure that the roads were safe for motorists during the period.
“We have started a special operation as directed by the national headquarters for the Eid el-Kabir.
“We started on Aug.17 and it will end on Aug. 26.
“A total of 700 personnel have been deployed, while we have already deployed 17 operational vehicles, four ambulances and three power bikes for smooth operations during the celebrations,’’ he said.
He explained that the command had embarked on the sensitisation programme in all major motor parks in the state, to educate motorists on safety measures and also carried out free eye tests for some selected drivers.
“For this celebration, we have embark on massive motor park rallies to ensure that we educate motorists on how to make the roads safe during the celebrations.
“We have also taken steps to ensure that we clear the broken down vehicles and other obstructions on the roads, to ensure free flow of traffic during the period,’’ he said.
The sector commander maintained that the command had identified some critical flash points in the state, adding that mobile courts had also been positioned to try traffic violators.
“This is rainy season and a special period. Drivers need to check their wipers, lights, mirrors and the water level of their vehicles, before embarking on their trips,” he added.
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