Undergraduates die in Bayelsa Auto Crash (Read)
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Unspecified number of part-time undergraduate students of the Niger Delta University was on Tuesday night feared dead in an accident that occurred along the Amasoma-Yenagoa Road, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
A bus conveying the students to Yenagoa reportedly collided with a car heading to Amasoma at about 9pm on Tuesday night.
There were, however, different versions of the casualty figure.
While some accounts said 15 persons died on the spot, others said only five died.
The state Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Vincent Jack, told our correspondent on Wednesday afternoon that he had dispatched a team of corps to the scene of the accident.
“I do not have the casualty figure yet until my men return from the accident scene, “Jack said.
He, however, confirmed that the accident resulted from a head-on collision involving a Toyota Hiace bus conveying part-time undergraduate students and a car.
The bus, with Rivers State Registration number KNM141XA and the car, XB269KPR, were said to be on high speed when the accident occurred.
One of the eyewitnesses, Fungbe, a 100-level part-time student of the university said a pregnant woman was rescued from the scene.
“A pregnant woman was rescued from the accident unhurt but five persons, including a young lady who sat in front died instantly while others were taken to nearby hospitals,” he said.
Explaining how the accident occurred, the witness said, “I was directly behind the bus that was going down to the school when I noticed the heavy speed the bus was moving on. I told our driver to slow down.
“Within seconds, we saw a trailer that was moving with a snail speed coming towards the vehicle. The other bus was overtaking the trailer before he noticed that a car coming in the opposite direction had no head lamp. This resulted in head-on collision”.
Another eyewitness who refused to mention her name blamed the accident on deplorable condition of the road and appealed to the state government to expedite action on the ongoing construction of the road.
Some of the casualties and injured passengers were said to have been taken to Gloryland Hospital, Yenagoa, for treatment.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe; and the Public Relations Officer to the Niger Delta University, Mr. Joe Alaqua, said they were not aware that people died in the accident.
But Jack, who confirmed the accident promised to make the casualty figure known to our correspondent after conducting preliminary investigations. He could not however supply the figure as of the time of filing this report.
NIGERIAN EYE
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