Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A pedestrian has lost his life after being struck by a Toyota Coaster bus at Imowo, along the Imowo‑Ibadan Road inward Ijebu Ode in Ogun State. The fatal accident occurred at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026, according to a statement issued on Monday by the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE). The agency’s spokesperson, Babatunde Akinbiyi, told PUNCH Metro that the male victim was attempting to cross the road when he was hit. Eyewitness accounts indicated that the pedestrian “forgot to check the other side of the road before crossing,” Akinbiyi said. The impact of the collision was severe, and the victim died instantly at the scene. No other injuries were recorded.
The crash caused serious traffic congestion along the route, TRACE confirmed. The obstruction created by the stationary bus led to a significant backlog of vehicles, forcing a diversion to a single lane outward Ijebu Ode due to ongoing road rehabilitation works on that axis. TRACE operatives and police officers from the Obalende Division were immediately deployed to manage the flow of traffic and coordinate rescue operations. The agency’s personnel also assisted in carrying the presumed dead into an Ogun State Ambulance Service (OGSAS) ambulance. The body was subsequently conveyed to the General Hospital mortuary in Ijebu Ode for preservation and autopsy.
The Toyota Coaster bus was later evacuated from the road and moved to the Police Area Command in Igbeba for further investigation. TRACE confirmed that normal vehicular movement was restored after the evacuation exercise. The agency reiterated its appeal to pedestrians to exercise greater caution when crossing highways, particularly on roads undergoing construction. Akinbiyi stressed that ongoing road rehabilitation on the Imowo‑Ijebu Ode axis has reduced traffic to a single lane, making it even more dangerous for pedestrians to cross without proper observation. “There is a diversion to one lane due to ongoing road rehabilitation on the axis,” the TRACE spokesperson said, explaining that the altered traffic pattern may have contributed to the victim’s misjudgment. The agency also advised motorists to remain vigilant and obey traffic rules, especially in construction zones where lane configurations change.
This tragic incident is the latest in a series of fatal pedestrian accidents recorded in Ogun State. In February 2026, a plywood‑laden truck crushed three pedestrians to death after ramming into another truck at the Ota Tollgate area of the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway. In March 2026, an unidentified man was killed in a hit‑and‑run accident at the Magboro end of the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway when a Sienna vehicle struck him while he was crossing, and a commercial bus also ran over him. In the same month, a runaway truck killed a toddler and two adults at the Toll‑Gate area of the Lagos‑Abeokuta Expressway. The recurring fatalities have prompted renewed calls for improved pedestrian infrastructure, including footbridges and designated crossing points, particularly on high‑speed corridors.
The Ogun State Government has invested in road rehabilitation across the state, including the Imowo‑Ijebu Ode axis, but safety measures for pedestrians have lagged behind. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and TRACE have both increased public awareness campaigns, but the number of pedestrian deaths remains stubbornly high. In 2025, the FRSC recorded 1,127 pedestrian fatalities nationwide, a 12 percent increase from the previous year. The agency attributed the rise to jaywalking, poor street lighting, and driver speed. In Ogun State, where traffic from Lagos funnels into the South‑West and South‑South, pedestrian deaths have become a recurring tragedy.
The identity of the deceased has not been released, as police are still working to notify his family. The driver of the Toyota Coaster bus is cooperating with investigators, police sources said. No charges have been filed as of the time of this report, and the case remains under investigation by the Police Area Command in Igbeba. TRACE has urged pedestrians to use designated crossing points, avoid crossing highways at bends or near construction zones, and always look both ways before stepping onto the road. “One moment of carelessness can end a life,” Akinbiyi warned. The body of the victim remains at the General Hospital mortuary in Ijebu Ode, awaiting identification by relatives.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments