By Aminata Sameena Sesay
Two pupils of Cardiff Preparatory School and a parent were said to have died in hospital following a road accident involving a hired bus that was taking the pupils, teachers and parents to an outing at Lakka Beach past Saturday.
The pupils who later passed away at the Emergency Hospital were identified as Mohamed Mansaray and Martin Bangura, both in their mid- teens.
A woman said to be a parent, Doris Lamin, was also confirmed dead.
The accident occurred along Spur Road, West of Freetown, late afternoon as the bus reportedly descended from the Wilberforce end, lost control and crashed into the back fence of the Lumley Police Station. This descending stretch of road has gained notoriety for fatal accidents over the last seven years.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in charge of traffic investigation at Lumley Police, Josie K Williams told Politico the boys Mohamed and Martin, were both residents of the Hill Station community where Cardiff School is located, whilst Doris was from the Allen Town community. He also disclosed that some of the victims admitted at the Emergency Hospital in Goderich, and the 34 Military Hospital at Wilberforce and other medical facilities were in a critical condition.
ASP Williams pointed out that, the spread in the admission cases of the patients makes it difficult to get the data of those injured in other to inform the appropriate authorities.
He went on to say that, they cannot at the moment ascertain the cause of the accident, noting that investigation is being conducted by the vehicle examiners attached to the Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority (SLRSA) to determine the cause of the crash. He further stated that the driver was in a state of shock, but he is in custody assisting them in the investigations.
Nancy Marrah whose shop was hit by the bus noted that schools should refrain from conducting outings for children and find another form of activity for them especially at such a festive season. She pleaded with all of Sierra Leone to pray for the victims of the bus tragedy.
Copyright © 2022 Politico (21/12/22)
