Six people lost their lives while 19 others were injured after a passenger vehicle somersaulted due to a tyre burst at Osuponri Village near the ICT Polytechnic, Itori, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on Friday.

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Friday.

According to Akinbiyi, the vehicle, a Toyota bus with number plate KJA 851 YH, was loaded with 27 passengers when the accident occurred at about 11 a.m.

He noted that the tyre of the vehicle burst while it was at high speed, causing it to somersault.

He said, “A fatal accident occurred at Osuponri Village near ICT Polytechnic, inbound Itori, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Ewekoro Local Government Area, Ogun State.

“It involved a Toyota bus with registration number KJA 851 YH (grey colour).

“It was caused by a tyre burst and loss of control that led to the vehicle somersaulting.”

The impact of the accident was said to have led to the death of six occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, while 19 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Akinbiyi noted that the injured victims were taken to the Ifo General Hospital, Ifo, Ogun State, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the same hospital’s morgue.

“25 people were in the bus, including seven male adults, 11 female adults, two male children, and five female children. 19 people were injured, including five male adults, nine female adults, one male child, and four female children.

“Six people died, comprising two male adults, two female adults, and one male and one female child, respectively.

“The injured victims were taken to the Ifo General Hospital, Ifo, for medical treatment, while the presumed dead bodies were deposited at the same hospital morgue,” the TRACE spokesperson said.

While commiserating with the families of the deceased, Akinbiyi warned drivers against using fake and expired tyres because of their attendant consequences.

“Nevertheless, TRACE, the Police, and the FRSC commiserate with the families of the deceased, advising drivers to exercise caution while driving.

“In the words of the acting Head of TRACE, Cdr. Omonayajo Elias, drivers are hereby charged to avoid using fake and expired tyres in view of their attendant consequences,” he concluded. (The PUNCH)