No fewer than 14 people lost their lives in an accident that occurred on Ipetu-Ijesa-Ilesa Highway, Osun State on Saturday evening.

The sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Osun, Paul Okpe, explained that the accident occurred at 5:40 p.m. at the Powerline area killing four males, four females and six children.

He said the children were two females and four males, adding that a total of 14 people died in the accident involving 18 passengers.

The sector commander explained that four males, who survived the accident, were rushed to a nearby hospital.

“The 14 corpses have been deposited in a morgue and the road cleared to avoid gridlock on the highway,” Mr Okpe said.

He said that an articulated vehicle (Howo-Sinotruck) with number plate BAU 171 ZE collided with a Toyota Sienna with number plate KRD 842 GY.

According to him, they received a distress call at about 5:45 p.m. on Saturday about an accident on the Ipetu-Ijesa-Ilesa highway involving two vehicles.

“Our men arrived at the location at 5:50 p.m and met dead bodies at the scene, which we have taken to the nearest morgue at the Wesley Hospital in Ilesa,” Mr Okpe said.

He said that the accident occurred due to disobedience to road safety ordinance by motorists.

Mr Okpe, however, cautioned road users to be safety conscious while embarking on a long journey.

According to him, safety is a shared responsibility that must be embraced by all and not left in the hands of the safety officers alone.