Tragedy struck the university town of Akungba-Akoko in Ondo State on Wednesday night as a cement-laden truck ran out of control, killing eight people, including a pregnant woman, a mother, and her child.
The fatal accident occurred around 8:00 pm, just a few metres from the main gate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), and near the popular Holy Trinity Church.
Eyewitnesses said the truck reportedly suffered brake failure before crashing into traders and other road users in the densely populated area.
Angry residents at the scene blamed the tragedy on the removal of a barricade that had previously prevented articulated vehicles from entering the community.
They lamented that the incident revived painful memories of previous accidents in the area that had claimed several lives over the years.
According to one of the sources, “Some boys in the community had been using the barricade erected to extort N10,000 from the truck drivers before allowing them to pass through. The government turned blind eyes.”
Confirming the crash, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Ondo State, Ibitoye, said eight people died in the accident.
He said, “The deceased persons include five males, two females and one child. The truck ran into a barricade in front of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, and lost control, resulting in the crash.”
The community has called for urgent measures to prevent the recurrence of such accidents, highlighting the dangers posed by heavy vehicles navigating residential areas.