About 30 passengers have died in an auto crash at the popular Onipetesi area on the Ore/Lagos highway in the Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. 

The Peoples Gazette learnt that the accident occurred on Saturday. . 

Witnesses said that the accident involved two articulated vehicles that collided after the drivers drove against traffic to avoid traffic on the route. 

One of the witnesses, Bayo Adefarati, disclosed that 28 people were burnt beyond recognition while two others, rescued from the scene, died on their way to the hospital. 

“The two commercial buses collided and burst into flames, resulting in the deaths of the passengers. The drivers drove against traffic to avoid traffic on the road. And they were even at a high speed. Both vehicles were loaded with passengers. I counted 30 occupants, and two of them died while on the way to the hospital. It was the timely effort of the road safety and concern motorists that reduced the casualty figure. If not, we would have recorded more casualties,” Mr Adefarati told The Gazette.  

The state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Samuel Ibitoye, who confirmed the accident through a statement on Sunday, said 30 persons died in the accident.  

“A total of 28 persons were burnt beyond recognition while two others died while being taken to the hospital for treatment, and two survivors are now receiving treatment,” Mr Ibitoye said in the copy of the statement. 

He blamed impatience on the part of the drivers for the head-on collision, stressing that investigation showed that they drove against the traffic. 

According to Mr Ibitoye, the corpses have been deposited at the hospital’s morgue. 

Urging passengers travelling on the highway to always speak out against unsafe driving practices, he cautioned drivers to avoid reckless driving and ensure proper vehicle maintenance.