A footballer has died in a road accident involving a Mercedes-Benz C300 and a bus along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in the Magboro area of Ogun State.
The crash occurred on Monday in the Magboro axis of Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, leaving the Mercedes-Benz badly damaged.
Officials of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency and police officers confirmed the death to journalists at the scene, saying the incident involved a hit-and-run driver.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the victim and other members of his football academy were travelling in two vehicles to honour a match when a trailer allegedly struck the Mercedes-Benz, causing it to collide with a bus.
According to the eyewitness, the trailer driver fled the scene after the crash.
“We were going for a match. We just saw a trailer cross from the other side and hit this Benz, then it hit the bus. Only one person died in the car while the rest of us survived.
“Everyone in the bus is fine, too. The trailer driver fled with his vehicle afterwards,” the eyewitness said.
The identity of the deceased footballer had yet to be established as of the time of filing this report.
The Mercedes-Benz, with registration number SMK-878KX, was severely crushed in the impact, while efforts were underway to remove its wreckage from the expressway.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the dangers of reckless driving and hit-and-run incidents on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, one of the country’s busiest highways. The circumstances surrounding the crash are expected to be further established by the relevant authorities.