At least eight persons have been confirmed dead and three hospitalized in a serious accident, when a 20-seater Mercedez Benz passenger bus veered into a crowd of students last Friday, on their way from school in Conteh Kunda in the North Bank Region.
The victims include three young girls, Awa Secka, Mariama Secka, Ndey Kodou Cham and five boys, Ebrima Secka, Omar Secka, Basiru Secka, Badou Secka and Sulayman Bittaye all students of Conteh Kunda Sukuto Lower Basic School in Illiasa District of NBR.
Reports said the accident happened between the villages of Conteh Kunda Sukoto and Conteh Kunda Neegi.
Three other students are currently hospitalised at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) in
The police public relations officer, ASP Yerro Mballow, told reporters that the incident happened when the students were coming from school, trekking back home.
According to him, the police are still investigating the root cause of the accident because, as he puts it, the driver, Ebou Njie, was driving on the right side of the road while the students were trekking on the left side when he crashed in them, killing eight of them on the spot.
Mballow stated that the driver was arrested on the spot, when he tried to escape, by some officers of the fire and ambulance services who were onboard the said vehicle.
“The driver is currently helping the police in their investigations,” Mballow added.
He said the vehicle, bearing registration number BJL 8385 G, was said to be heading towards Farafenni.
ASP Mballow went on to advise drivers to observe and respect the speed limit on roads, especially in settlement areas.
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