3 LAUTECH Students Die, Others Injured In Road Crash

Three final year students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State  who were returning from a picnic yesterday lost their lives in a motor accident near Ojutu Bridge in Ilobu on Osogbo/Ogbomoso Road.

Our correspondent gathered that the deceased included the driver of the Mazda bus and three final year students of the university.

Five other students were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries in the lone accident and were rushed to Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo while the deceased were deposited in the hospital morgue.

It was gathered that the students were returning from Erin Ijesa waterfall where they went for an excursion.

Confirming the incident, the head of operations, Osun Emergency Medical Services And Ambulance System (OSEMSAS), Mrs. Elizabeth Arowosafe, said the injured were rushed to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital for treatment by men of the agency.

According to her, the driver of the white Mazda bus was trying to dodge some persons around the accident area when he somersaulted due to over-speeding.

She said, “It was late in the evening yesterday that I was called by my paramedics and driver in Irepodun Local Government that a car somersaulted.

“I was told the driver was speeding and tried to dodge some people around the Okinni area when the incident happened.

“The driver alongside a lady were burnt to ashes. We rushed the injured immediately to Uniosun Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.

“The hospital did well. In fact, there was not enough space to accommodate the injured people and we had to leave our stretcher for them to use.

“We could not recognise the dead victims. They were travelling inside a bus. I learnt that the occupants of the bus were final year students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, who came to Erin Ijesa waterfall for an excursion.

“One of the injured students confirmed to us that they were coming from an excursion. She gave us five of the victim’s names but she didn’t get the strength to name the others.

Osun State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed the accident through the state commandant, Henry Benjamin.

He blamed the accident on overspending and pleaded with motorists to adhere strictly to safe driving measures.

The university spokesperson, Lekan Fadeyi in a terse statement confirmed the accident.