Road crash claims lives of 2 varsity students
Story by Susan Mbamah
A tragic head-on collision between a commercial tricycle and a truck on the Yenagoa/Amassoma Road in Bayelsa State has resulted in the deaths of two students from Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma. The crash, which occurred on Wednesday, also left several other passengers in the tricycle with critical injuries.
Residents believe the accident was caused by a combination of a lack of proper road signs and excessive speeding. A trader, Godspower Okilo, told reporters on Thursday that the truck driver was “moving too fast” and couldn’t avoid the collision.
“The Keke (tricycle) had no chance of escaping the danger because the tipper was already close to it,” he said. Okilo added that reckless driving by truck drivers has been an ongoing problem on the road for years, and nothing has changed.
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The impact was so severe that the tricycle was “damaged beyond recognition.” Good Samaritans at the scene rushed to help, pulling survivors from the wreckage and taking the injured to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa. The bodies of the deceased students were later moved to a morgue.
This incident has led to renewed calls for stricter traffic enforcement. Okilo urged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the State Police Command to “intensify patrols, introduce speed breakers, and conduct regular safety checks on heavy-duty vehicles.”
Another resident, Mrs. Ebike Ekain, warned that more lives will be lost if authorities don’t take action.
The Yenagoa/Amassoma Road is considered one of the most dangerous in Bayelsa, partly because of several turns that resulted from a recent reconstruction, which motorists often navigate at dangerous speeds. While the FRSC typically stations an ambulance on the road, residents say more needs to be done.
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DSP Musa Muhammad, the spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, confirmed the accident, stating, “Yes, an accident happened there and we are investigating the causes of the accident.”
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