Osun accident: Five LAUTECH students, driver burnt to death

The casualty figure in the recent road accident involving students from Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, has surged from the initial three to six. This devastating development follows the tragic loss of three more lives at the hospital where they were undergoing treatment after the horrific crash.

As previously reported, the incident occurred on Wednesday night when a bus carrying students was traveling along the Osogbo/Ifon/Oyo boundary road. Tragically, three occupants of the bus lost their lives in the accident as it erupted in flames.

Swift response from the operatives of Osun Ambulance Scheme played a crucial role in rescuing six other passengers from the blazing wreckage. They promptly arrived at the scene near Ojutu Bridge, Ilobu, in response to a distress call.

According to Adeyanju, a resident of Okinni, the accident's sequence began when the bus driver collided with a commercial motorcyclist in the town. Attempting to elude the pursuit of angry residents who were chasing him, the driver lost control of the vehicle just a few meters from Ojutu Bridge. The bus somersaulted and became engulfed in flames, trapping some passengers.

Elizabeth Arowosafe, the Head of Operations at Osun Ambulance Scheme, provided further details about the accident. She revealed that the distress call was received at approximately 9:50 pm on Wednesday, reporting that a bus transporting final year students of Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, who were returning from a picnic, had been involved in a grave accident.

Arowosafe explained, "We responded around 9:53 pm. I was told the driver had hit someone in Okinni and was speeding to avoid some people around the area chasing after him when the incident happened."

Tragically, the driver, a lady, and a male student were consumed by the flames and lost their lives in the incident. The survivors, six in total, were promptly transported to UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital in Osogbo. The hospital staff made valiant efforts to treat the injured, even though the influx of patients stretched their resources.

The victims, traveling inside the ill-fated bus, were believed to be final year students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, who had embarked on an excursion to Erin-Ijesa waterfall.

As the gravity of the tragedy deepens, our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims, and we hope for the swift recovery of those who survived this horrific ordeal. This heartbreaking incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of road safety and adherence to speed limits.