18 Killed In Horrible Accident After Toyota Hiace Explodes Along Expressway

• The terrible accident along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore Expressway involving a Toyota Hiace matatu left 18 people dead
• Traffic officials in Ogun State said the accident was caused by petrol in a jerrycan which had been stored in the matatu
• According to the officials, the incident occurred after the petrol jerrycan fell on the floor of the vehicle by accident before igniting

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Ogun State - At least 18 people have been confirmed dead following a horrible accident along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore Expressway in Nigeria.

The Channel TV reported that the accident happened after a Toyota Hiace, with registration number XA 690AKU, exploded in the middle of the road.

What caused the Ore Expressway accident

The Ogun State Traffic Agency confirmed that victims were burnt beyond recognition when petrol stored in a jerrycan inside the vehicle ignited.

Preliminary investigations show that the petrol poured on the floor of the vehicle and later dropped in the exhaust pipe, causing it to catch fire.

“According to eyewitness accounts and this was corroborated by the driver, there was a keg full of Petroleum Motor Spirit inside the bus.

It fell on its side when the vehicle got to a failed portion of the road. The PMS poured on the floor of the bus and later dropped on the exhaust pipe, causing the vehicle to catch fire in transit," traffic report read as reported by News Central TV.

The driver survived with partial burns and was rescued and taken to a local hospital, while the deceased were deposited at the mortuary awaiting postmortem.

While warning drivers against storing fuel in jerry cans, the state officials expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.

How six children met their deaths in Kitui

Back in Kenya, six school-going children died in a grisly accident near Wiitu Shopping Centre in Kitui.

Ithitha Deputy County Commissioner Vincent Loctary said the victims included three pupils from Kyaoni Primary School and three from Kyaoni Secondary.

The authorities said five of the victims were girls. According to the deputy county commissioner, the learners were knocked down by a Probox vehicle while crossing the road at 6.20am.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

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Fight extinguisher

Damaged hiace van in expressway accident on Craiyon

Damaged hiace van after an expressway accident on Craiyon