A devastating accident occurred on the Tombia-Ammassoma road in Bayelsa State, claiming the lives of two suspected university students.
The incident happened when a tipper truck collided with a tricycle, leaving several passengers critically injured.
According to eyewitnesses, the tipper truck lost control while descending a slope at high speed and smashed into the tricycle near a sharp bend on the highway.
The accident occurred due to poor road markings and frequent speeding in the area, which has been a recurring problem on this stretch of road.
Godspower Okolo, a trader, witnessed the incident and described the impact as severe, leaving the tricycle “damaged beyond recognition”.
Good Samaritans rushed to the scene, rescuing the injured and transporting them to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, while the bodies of the deceased were evacuated to a nearby morgue.
Residents are calling for increased patrols, installation of speed breakers, and regular safety checks on heavy-duty vehicles to prevent such accidents in the future.
Mrs. Ebike Ekain, a resident, warned that without immediate intervention, more lives could be lost on the road.
This is not the first time the Tombia-Ammassoma road has witnessed such tragedies, with about 15 accidents occurring in the past 18 months, most involving tipper trucks and commercial tricycles.
The Bayelsa Police spokesman, DSP Musa Muhammad, confirmed the incident and said investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash.
The police are working to ensure that those responsible for the accident are held accountable and that measures are put in place to prevent such incidents in the future.
