A tragic road accident on Tuesday claimed the lives of three junior secondary school students and a commercial motorcyclist in the Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The fatal crash occurred along the Abanla–Idi-Ayunre road in the early hours of the day, as the students were on their way to school.
According to eyewitnesses, a commercial truck attempting to overtake another vehicle lost control and rammed into a motorcycle carrying the three students.
The truck driver reportedly fled the scene immediately after the incident.
One eyewitness, Akinola Owoeye, said, “The Okada rider and two of the students died instantly, while the third student was taken to a nearby hospital but was later confirmed dead.”
Another witness added, “The truck crushed them all at once. It’s heartbreaking — none of them survived.”
The incident sparked outrage in the community as students, motorcyclists, and residents gathered to protest, blocking the road and demanding government intervention. Many expressed anger over the recurring danger posed by heavy-duty trucks in the area.
Responding to the tragedy, the Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Akeem Olatunji, visited the accident scene and confirmed the deaths.
He expressed deep sorrow over the loss, blaming both reckless trailer drivers and some commercial motorcyclists who violate traffic rules in pursuit of quick earnings.
“This tragedy could have been avoided if basic traffic regulations had been followed,” Olatunji said. “If the rider hadn’t overloaded the motorcycle, he might have been able to avoid the collision.”
The chairman vowed that the local government would work with law enforcement to ensure the runaway driver is apprehended and held accountable.
He also promised that the construction company responsible for the truck would compensate the grieving families.
“This is a devastating loss,” he added. “As a father, I feel the pain. We cannot allow reckless behavior to keep stealing the lives of our children.”
To prevent further accidents, Olatunji directed the immediate construction of speed bumps along the route to slow down heavy-duty vehicles and protect road users, particularly schoolchildren.
Attempts to reach the Oyo State Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Rosemary Alo, were unsuccessful as of press time.