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• 21 hospitalised
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Three students of the University of Cross River (UNICROSS) and their driver died Friday night following a fatal accident along the Calabar Itu Highway.
The accident happened on Friday evening along the Ikot Okon by Berger yard along the highway.
Police sources said a container truck veered off its lane and rammed into the Coaster Bus conveying the students from an official engagement.
Two victims reportedly died on the spot while two others died in the process of being rushed to the hospital in Calabar for emergency care.
Some victims were reportedly rejected at the General Hospital Calabar because there was no doctor on ground before they were rushed to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH by Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC for emergency care.
Official estimates put the number of students affected by the accident at 21, with a number of them suffering grave injuries and receiving treatment at the hospital.
Innocent Etuk, the Cross River State Sector Commander of the FRSC attributed the accident to overspeeding and the truck driver veering off its lane.
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Also speaking, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer said preliminary reports indicate that the coaster bus was involved in a collision with the container truck.
“The driver of the container truck was not found at the scene upon the arrival of first responders, and efforts are ongoing to identify and locate him as investigations continue to determine the cause and circumstances surrounding the crash”, ASP Eitokpah said.
In an official statement signed by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Onen Ebri, the management said the accident involved 24 students and one staff member.
He said most of them were members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) executive, returning from an official assignment in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
According to him, the deceased were “ Comrade Solomon Uya, Director of Sports of the SUG; Comrade Lucky Erim of the Department of Chemistry and President of the Faculty of Physical Sciences Students’ Association as well as President of Presidents; Comrade Favour Darlington of the Department of Educational Management; and Mr. Anthony Arikpo, the driver of the vehicle and a staff member of the institution,” Onen said.
Meanwhile, the Cross River State Commissioner for Education Prof. Stephen Odey, alongside the Management Staff of the Ministry of Education, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic auto crash.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Ministry, the Commissioner described the incident as heartbreaking and a painful loss to the education sector.
He noted that the untimely death of three promising students and a staff member has cast a shadow of grief across the state.
According to him, “The loss is not only to the university community but to the entire state, as the victims represented a bright future now tragically cut short”, Prof. Odey said.
