A truck, on Tuesday, crushed three junior secondary school students and a commercial motorcyclist to death in the Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The accident occurred on the Abanla–Idi-Ayunre road in the morning when the students were going to school.
Multiple witnesses said that the driver of a commercial truck operating along the axis rammed into the motorcycle carrying the three students after a failed attempt to overtake another vehicle and crushed them.
According to reports, the driver of the truck reportedly ran away from the scene of the accident immediately.
Akinola Owoeye, who witnessed the accident, said, “The commercial motorcyclist and two students died immediately, while the third student was eventually pronounced dead at a nearby hospital where the student was rushed to.”
Another eyewitness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “The truck fatally crushed the commercial motorcycle carrying the three students, all at once. All of them, including the rider, are dead now.”
Witnesses also said that distraught students poured into the streets shortly after the incident, blocking the road and demanding justice and urgent government intervention.
It was also discovered that emotions ran high as other business motorcyclists and citizens stood in support, decrying the repeated threat posed by heavy-duty trucks on the road.
Akeem Olatunji, the council chairman, confirmed the disaster after rushing to the spot.
While expressing deep grief over the loss of young lives, the chairman chastised the irresponsibility of some caravan drivers in the area, as well as commercial motorcyclists in their pursuit of quick money.
He explained that if the commercial motorcyclists had followed all traffic rules, including the maximum number of passengers allowed, the rider would have been able to steer and manoeuvre his way out of the horrific collision.
Olatunji told the children’ families that justice would be done in the case, stating that the council would go to whatever length to ensure that the driver was apprehended and prosecuted.
The chairman also reassured the building business that the vehicle would be built to compensate the deceased’s family.
“This is one tragedy too many. I can only imagine what the parents and families of these future leaders are going through emotionally, psychologically and physically right now. I’m a father, and I can tell it is better imagined.
“We cannot continue to lose our children to preventable road accidents due to reckless drivers and riders who are bent on violating our laws at will,” he lamented.
He ordered that speed bumps be built on the road right away, adding, “We must take firm steps to slow down these trailers and protect our people, especially schoolchildren.”
