AT LEAST a months-old child died while 22 others were seriously injured when a vehicle belonging to the Osun State government crashed near the Sagamu interchange on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Sunday.
According to the Sagamu unit commander of Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr Lasisi Ogundele, the incident occured at about 4pm. He said a burst tire caused the vehicle to flip, before crashing and killing the child.
Ogundele said that the bus, belonging to Osun State Government and marked OS 46 A06, was coming from Lagos and conveying Islamic faithful believed to be members of NASFAT.
It remains unclear how the authorization was given for people to use a government vehicle to transport people to religious services. Already observers are asking to know who gave the authorization for the vehicle to be released for the journey.
“The bus was on top speed when it lost one of its front tyres; it somersaulted several times and swerved to the Ibadan-Lagos side of the road.
“The baby died on the spot, four other babies and 18 adults are currently on danger list as we speak. They are seriously injured but all of them are still alive.
“The remains of the baby had been deposited at Idera hospital while the injured are also receiving treatment at the same hospital.
“We want to again warn motorists against over speeding while on the highway and also they should stop buying used tyres. We have said it several times.
“When you buy used tyres, it is like attempting a suicide because most of those tyres have already expired before they were brought into the country, “ he warned.