At least three people have lost their lives while 20 others sustained varying degrees of injuries following a fatal road crash along the Ife-Ilesa Expressway in Osun State.

The crash occurred on Saturday at Tonkere town along the busy expressway and involved a Toyota Hiace bus and a Volkswagen Golf car.

The Osun State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Sunday Adebayo, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Osogbo.

According to the FRSC, preliminary investigations indicated that speeding and dangerous driving were among the factors that contributed to the crash.

Adebayo disclosed that 23 people were involved in the accident, comprising 11 females, nine males and three children — two boys and one girl.

He said three victims, comprising two females and one male, died in the crash, while the remaining 20 victims sustained injuries of varying degrees.

The accident reportedly attracted the immediate intervention of FRSC personnel, who arrived at the scene to conduct rescue operations, evacuate the injured and manage traffic around the accident site.

Patrol teams from the Ile-Ife and Ilesa commands were deployed to the scene as part of the emergency response.

The injured victims were subsequently evacuated to medical facilities in Ile-Ife for treatment. Some of the victims were reportedly taken to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, while others were taken to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital.

Reports indicated that some victims who sustained minor injuries were treated and later discharged.

The remains of the deceased were reportedly deposited at the morgue of Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa.

The two vehicles involved in the crash were also removed from the road and taken to a nearby police station in Ile-Ife as authorities commenced further investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

The FRSC urged motorists using the Ife-Ilesa Expressway and other major highways in the state to exercise extreme caution, particularly by avoiding excessive speed and dangerous driving practices.

The Sector Commander stressed that motorists have a responsibility not only to themselves but also to other road users, noting that reckless driving can have devastating consequences.

He further appealed to drivers to obey speed limits, remain vigilant and ensure that their vehicles are in good mechanical condition before embarking on journeys.

The FRSC command also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening patrol operations and public enlightenment campaigns across Osun State in a bid to reduce road traffic crashes and prevent avoidable loss of lives.

The latest crash has once again highlighted concerns over road safety on the Ife-Ilesa corridor, one of the major routes connecting communities and commercial centres in Osun State.

Authorities have continued to warn motorists that speeding, dangerous overtaking, fatigue and other forms of reckless driving remain major contributors to fatal road crashes on Nigerian highways.