‘A reckless driver ran into our vehicle’ — FRSC speaks on accident that killed its official

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says its officials were not responsible for an accident that occurred in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, on November 6. 

A video of the accident had gone viral, sparking different reactions. Many had blamed the corps for the accident which led to the death of one of its personnel.

But in a statement on Sunday, Bisi Kazeem, the corps’ public education officer, said after a series of investigations, it was gathered that the FRSC patrol van was not chasing after any offender as the trending video suggests.  

“At about midday of Wednesday, 6/11/19 around 1100HRS a team of FRSC personnel assigned to monitor and control traffic were approached by a truck driver who intended to make an enquiry from one of the members of the team,” the statement read. 

“In the course of the inquiry, a Mercedes Benz ran into the patrol vehicle and in the process killed the marshal attending to the driver of the truck and the other person making inquiry while  discussing, with the other FRSC official occupying the driver’s seat who was also seriously affected by the crash and eventually had one of his legs amputated at the University Teaching Hospital (UCH) Ibadan.

“Information gathered at the scene of the crash and from first responders  (eye witnesses) as well as the police revealed that contrary to some insinuations in the trending video, the FRSC patrol vehicle was not in motion when the incident occurred.

“The seriously injured victim was rushed to the hospital for medical attention while the deceased were taken to the morgue

“It is also of importance to intimate the public that the alleged reckless driver has been taken to court and charged accordingly.”

The FRSC said a magistrate court sitting in Iyagankun in Ibadan had on November 13 remanded the driver of the Mercedes-Benz till February 8, 2020, when the case would be heard.

Calling on the public to disregard the trending video, the FRSC said it is an unfortunate incident but a reality that their job is very hazardous in nature.