A devastating collision on the Ife–Ilesa express road in Osun State has claimed the lives of a father, his three young children and their family maid, while critically injuring the children’s mother.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the accident occurred at dawn on Saturday when a Mark trailer veered into the wrong lane and collided head‑on with the family’s Toyota Hilux. The force of the impact left the Hilux mangled, killing the four occupants instantly.
“Preliminary investigations show the trailer driver crossed into the opposing carriageway,” said Agnes Ogungbemi, the FRSC’s state spokesperson. “The bodies of the deceased were conveyed to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile‑Ife, and the injured woman was rushed to a private facility in Ipetumodu.”
FRSC Sector Commander Taofeek Adeyemi confirmed that the trailer driver remains in police custody and will face prosecution for dangerous driving. “We recovered ₦508,900 in cash and other personal effects at the scene and handed them to the bereaved family in the presence of law enforcement,” he added.
Local residents, still reeling from the tragedy, have called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations on the busy expressway, which links the historic town of Ife with Ilesa. “Drivers must not treat the wrong lane as an emergency shortcut,” one eyewitness remarked. “This road demands respect—too many lives have been lost.”
The FRSC reiterated its long‑standing warning to motorists: adhere to lane discipline and observe speed limits to prevent such carnage. As the community mourns, all eyes will be on authorities to ensure accountability and forestall future horrors on Osun’s highways.
