An unfortunate hit-and-run incident occurred, resulting in the loss of a life of a student from Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Osun State, on Monday night.
Reports suggest that the accident took place when a driver, allegedly driving in the wrong direction, collided with a motorcycle carrying the student, identified as Olanrewaju Olatona, and another individual along the Ikirun-Osogbo road area.
Information obtained from a student of the Polytechnic revealed that the driver fled the scene after the collision, which tragically led to the death of Olatona, a National Diploma 2 student.
Olatona, the Financial Secretary of the Department of Mass Communication, was getting ready for his mandatory one-year Industrial Training, according to sources.
One source mentioned, “A student from Iree lost his life in a tragic incident involving a trailer driver on Monday night. The student, along with another person, was on a motorcycle when the driver, driving against traffic, crashed into them.
“Sadly, the student passed away on the spot. He held the position of Financial Secretary in the Department of Mass Communication and was on the verge of starting his IT before the unfortunate event.”
During a telephone conversation, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident and stated that a search for the driver is currently underway.
Opalola mentioned, “Yes, the incident occurred, and we are currently confirming the identity of the victim as a student. Initially, the police were not notified that the victim was a student.
“It was a hit-and-run case, and the driver managed to escape at the time. However, we are actively pursuing the driver to bring them to justice,” Opalola assured.
In a previous report by PUNCH Metro in April 2018, a similar hit-and-run incident resulted in the death of Deborah Olajide, a first-class student at the Federal University of Technology, Akure.
Deborah was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver along the Akure-Ilesa Expressway, close to the university’s main entrance, with the driver fleeing the scene afterwards.
Following the tragedy, students held a protest in front of the university gate, blocking the expressway for hours as they demanded justice for their fellow student.