JAMB’s exam candidates Tragedy struck yesterday in the Ahoada axis of the East-West Road in Rivers State, as five candidates for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB’s) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UMTE) died in an auto crash, on the way to their centres, while five others were injured.
Corpses of the deceased were deposited at the morgue of Ahoada General Hospital in Rivers state, while those injured and on danger list, are receiving treatment at the same hospital.
It was learnt that the accident occurred around 7am at Ojiagbidi, near Mbiama in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers state and it involved a Mazda saloon car and a motorcycle.
The car, with the UTME’s candidates, was coming from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital and heading for Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Driver of the car was over speeding, with the vehicle veering off the road and hit the motorcycle carrying some persons, before the car eventually hit a tree, leading to the heavy casualties.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Rivers State, Mr. Osas Osadebanwen, who confirmed the "unfortunate" accident in a telephone interview, said recklessness and over speeding by driver of the Mazda car, caused the "avoidable" incident.
Osadebanwen, however, said he was not sure if all the deceased and injured were moving to the venues of UTME.
An impeccable source, who would not want to be named, maintained that the deceased were travelling to Port Harcourt from Yenagoa and specifically for UTME.
The source added that the deceased were rushing to their centres, because of JAMB’s directive that they must get to their centres before 7 am.
The sector commander then admonished motorists to exercise caution while driving and to avoid over speeding, overloading, dangerous overtaking and recklessness, especially during this dry season, when the roads would be slippery.
Source : The Nation Newspaper
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