A driver of an articulated vehicle on Saturday lost control of the vehicle at the New Garage area of Ibadan, Oyo State, crushing a taxi before crashing into a row of retail shops.

It is not clear how many people actually died in the accident, but eyewitnesses told our correspondent that seven people died immediately, while five people sustained life threatening injuries.

However, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Sunday, said two people died, while four others sustained injuries.

One of the eyewitnesses, Lanre Agunla, said the vehicle was coming from Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, taking the New Garage entrance to Ibadan when the driver suddenly lost control and crashed into the taxi.

He said, “Around 6.20pm on Saturday, the driver of the articulated vehicle lost control of the vehicle and ran into a Toyota Micra taxi and a commercial tricycle before hitting some retail shops. Seven people died on the spot, while five people were injured. The scene was gory with body parts everywhere.”

Agunla said the driver of the vehicle was captured by an irate mob as he attempted to escape the scene and was rescued from being lynched by a police patrol team that visited the scene of the accident.

He added that the driver was thereafter taken to the Challenge Police Station.

But according to the Oyo police PPRO, two corpses of victims of the accident were deposited at the Adeoyo State Hospital morgue, while the injured persons were taken to Ibadan Central Hospital for treatment.

Ajisebutu added that the driver of the articulated vehicle escaped from the scene of the accident.

“We are yet to ascertain the company that owns the vehicle because the driver escaped. His assistant was arrested and helping our investigation into the incident,” he said.