Eight persons were confirmed dead on Tuesday in an auto crash involving a truck conveying traders to Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
It was learnt that the dead victims comprised six traders, the truck driver and his assistant.
The truck conveying the traders, who were said to have travelled to Barutin, Kwara State, to buy yam flour, was said to have been involved in a lone accident at Arolu, a community in the Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, which is close to Osogbo.
The traders were said to have left Osogbo for Barutin about four days ago.
The driver, who allegedly fell asleep during the return trip, lost control and the tuck veered off into the bush while bags of yam flour fell on the victims, who were unconscious.
There was wailing at the Pur Lady of Fatima Catholic Hospital at the Jaleyemi area of Osogbo as corpses of the victims were brought there.
Relations and colleagues of the victims, as well as sympathisers, besieged the hospital amid confusion to check the corpses.
Residents of the area told our correspondent that some of the bodies were later taken to General Hospital, Asubiaro.
The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Osun State Command, Mr. Anthony Oko, confirmed the accident to our correspondent on the telephone.
He said, “It was a lone accident that was caused by fatigue. It happened around 4.30am (Tuesday). Four male adults and four female adults died, while nine persons were injured. Some union members saw the vehicle and helped the occupants.”
The FRSC boss appealed to motorists to ensure that their vehicles were in good condition before putting them on the road, while also urging drivers to ensure that they were in the right frame of mind before driving.
