Accident claims five persons, including family of four in UNILORIN

 At least five persons, including a family of four, have been killed in an auto crash at the University of Ilorin on Monday.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the family of four included a father, who was the driver of a commercial minibus, his wife, who was also a worker at the university, and their two kids.

The fifth victim was said to be a student at the university.

While three of the victims died on the spot, two others died on Tuesday at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, where they were receiving treatment.

The incident, which was confirmed by the university authorities, happened around 9pm along the university dam.

The President and Public Relations Officer of the Students Union Government, Taofik Opeyemi, and Olabode Stephen, respectively, in a statement, said, “The unfortunate incident happened as a result of speeding on the part of a private car, which hit a campus korope shuttle (minibus).”

Also, a statement by the Director of Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin, Mr Kunle Akogun,  said the varsity management sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives and the students who were injured in the accident.

The statement read, “The management of the University of Ilorin received with sadness the news of the unfortunate auto accident that occurred on campus on Monday evening. The said accident resulted in some fatalities, while some occupants of the cars involved also sustained varying degrees of injury.”

In a related incident, two persons on Tuesday were crushed to death on the Onitsha-Awka Expressway, Anambra State, after their vehicle rammed into a tipper.

The accident, involving a Toyota Corolla and the tipper, occurred at the Ogbunike Hill.

Two other persons, the driver and a passenger on the tipper, reportedly sustained minor injuries.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the car driver rammed into the faulty tipper, which was moving slowly while climbing the hilly road.

Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps were seen managing the situation, which almost got out of hand as drivers drove against traffic.

An eyewitness, who did not identify himself, said, “The tipper developed a fault while climbing the road and the driver of the Toyota Corolla, who was on top speed, rammed into it from the rear and crashed, leaving two occupants of the car dead.”

The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Anambra State, Adeoye Irelewuyi, who confirmed the incident, said the bodies of the deceased were immediately taken by their families.

“The cause of the crash was road obstruction and excessive speeding. Four male adults were involved. Two were killed, while two others sustained minor injuries,” he added. (Courtesy The PUNCH)