Seven people, including three schoolchildren, were killed in a tragic car accident on Tuesday about 9 a.m. in the WOCDIF neighborhood along the Osun West bypass road in Osogbo, Osun state’s capital.
The fatal incident involved a commercial bus with the registration RBC15 ZN, a motorcycle, and a tricycle transporting school pupils. The commercial bus, en route from the stadium end, reportedly veered off its lane, colliding with the tricycle and motorcycle opposite the WOCDIF event centre.
Eyewitness Akande Babawale recounted that the bus driver unexpectedly swerved off his lane, resulting in a collision that claimed four lives instantly. Among the victims were two male children and a female child.
Confirming the incident, Agnes Ogungbemi, the spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Osun, attributed the cause of the accident to a tire burst and overspeeding by the commercial bus. She reported that four individuals died at the scene, while four injured persons were rushed to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital. Unfortunately, three of the injured victims succumbed to their injuries, leaving one female child undergoing treatment.
The vehicles involved in the accident were subsequently taken to the Dugbe Police Divisional headquarters in Osogbo.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, expressed shock over the tragic news and conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to the affected families. In a statement released by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke emphasized the need for road users to exercise caution and adhere to safety guidelines. He assured that the state government would collaborate with relevant authorities to enhance road safety measures.
The governor stated, “I am distraught to hear about the terrible accident that resulted in the death of five people in Osogbo due to a fatal accident while five other people sustained injuries of varying degrees.” He extended his prayers for the repose of the souls of the deceased and offered support to the injured, pledging to work towards making the roads safer for all users.
