By Ade Oyeyemi
Several passengers have sustained serious injuries after an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus crashed into a bridge under construction at Ayegunle-Oka in the Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The accident reportedly occurred on Friday, leaving several occupants of the vehicle injured. The victims were said to have been taken to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
Eyewitnesses blamed the crash on inadequate safety precautions at the construction site, alleging that the absence of visible warning signs and barriers left motorists unaware of the obstruction ahead.
A passerby, who identified himself as Samson, described the location as a danger spot, claiming that several accidents had occurred there since work began on the bridge.
He recalled that some motorcyclists reportedly lost their lives weeks earlier after crashing into the structure without realising that construction was ongoing.
“This is becoming a serious concern because several accidents have occurred here since the construction started. The government needs to intervene before more lives are lost,” Samson said.
He urged the state government to compel the contractor handling the project to install conspicuous warning signs and safety barriers to alert motorists and prevent further accidents.
Another bystander, Ayobami, expressed concern over the repeated crashes at the site and called for urgent government intervention to address the situation.
He said the contractor should be directed to accelerate work on the bridge to reduce the risks faced by motorists and other road users.
“The contractor should be directed to speed up the work, so that motorists and other commuters can use the bridge safely,” he said.
Ayobami also stressed the need for adequate safety measures around the construction site until the project is completed.
