Adepitan Yusuf, the manager of popular Nigerian artiste, Oritsefemi, and 16 other commuters escaped death by a whisker on Sunday after a Dangote trailer rammed into some vehicles at the toll gate end of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

It was gathered that the heavy-laden Dangote trailer, with number plate, XA-488 VDY, was heading towards the toll gate area in Ota, Ogun State, when its brakes failed, leading to the accident at about 8.40pm.

Eyewitnesses told our correspondents that the trailer hit six vehicles, a Kia car with number plate, KSF 06 DX; a Peugeot 206, marked BK 03 ODE; a Volvo car, with number plate, KSF 22 BJ; and a Mitsubishi bus marked, KSF 695 XS.

The Unit Commander of the Ota Unit of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Leye Adegboyega, told one of our correspondents that the Dangote trailer later used another Sino trailer with number plate, XA 370 WDP, to halt its movement.

It was gathered that no fewer than 17 persons were involved in the accident, while three of them sustained injuries.

Adegboyega said, “Seventeen people, comprising 14 males and three females, were involved in the accident. One of them was Oritsefemi’s manager, but he was not injured, as the vehicle was hit at the rear.

“Only three persons were injured and they were taken to Leadway Hospital in Ota by the FRSC, Ota unit personnel due to the strike currently going on at General Hospital, Ota. Two of the injured persons had fractures.

“The FRSC personnel were at the scene to control the traffic caused by the accident.”

Our correspondents gathered that the affected vehicles were towed away from the expressway at 10am on Monday.

It was further learnt that two of the three victims at the Leadway Hospital had been discharged on Monday, while the third victim was responding to treatment.

Oritsefemi’s management, Shetade Images Management/Media, in a statement on Monday said his manager, Yusuf, aka Danku; and another artiste, Rayce, were in the affected vehicle.

The statement read in part, “Rayce and Danku, while speaking on the phone explained that the accident happened after the Dangote truck came out of nowhere and rammed into about five cars.

“A blue colour Volvo driven by Danku was totally destroyed. They were coming from a show in Ilorin, Kwara State, and nothing happened to them until they got to Sango. The Dangote truck slammed into their vehicle from behind.

“Everyone in the car sustained serious injuries, and they have been taken to a hospital in the Agege area of Lagos.”