Two Osun schoolchildren, five others die as bus runs over tricycle

An an accident on the Osogbo-Ilobu highway, Osogbo, the Osun State capital have claimed the live of two schoolchildren and five others.

The accident, which left some people critically injured, occurred around 9am on Tuesday, and involved a commercial bus, a motorcycle and a tricycle carrying the school pupils.

It was gathered that the commercial bus, with number plate RBC15 ZN, was coming from the stadium end before veering off its lane to the other side, where it rammed into the tricycle and the motorcycle opposite the WOCDIF Event Centre.

An eyewitness, Akande Babawale, said the bus driver suddenly veered off his lane and rammed into the moving tricycle and motorcycle killing four victims on the spot.

The spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps in Osun State, Agnes Ogungbemi, said the acccident was a result of a tyre burst and speeding by the commercial bus.

She said seven persons died in the acccident, including four adults, two male children and a female child.

“Four persons died on the spot, four injured persons were taken to the Osun State University of Teaching Hospital, three of the injured victims were later confirmed dead and one female child is undergoing treatment”, she said.

She added that the vehicles were taken to Dugbe Police Divisional headquarters in Osogbo.

The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, expressed shock over the accident and death.

A statement issued by his media aide, Olawale Rasheed,  said Adeleke reiterated the call on road users to exercise caution and adhere strictly to safety on roads.

“I am distraught by the terrible auto crash that resulted in the death of seven people in Osogbo, while five other people sustained injuries of varying degrees. It is really painful for me, and I want to use this avenue to commiserate with the families of the deceased.

“It is my prayer that God Almighty repose their souls and give their loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses occasioned by their death. As a government, we will give the needed support to the injured and pray for their quick recoveries.”