At least two students and a driver from the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) have died following a tragic road accident along the Calabar-Itu Highway.

The crash which happened around 9:25pm on Friday at the Ikot Okon axis of the busy highway involved a commercial coaster bus conveying the students and a heavy-duty container truck.

The vice chancellor of the institution, Prof Francisca Bassey, who confirmed the incident in an emotional voice, expressed grief and anger over the death of her students whom she said were dear to her and the entire university community.

"I haven't slept since yesterday, I had been at the hospital trying to ensure that the ones who sustained various degrees of injury receive treatment.

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"As a mother and vice chancellor of the school, I am going through emotional breakdown following this irreparable loss," she maintained.

Spokesperson for the Cross River State Police Command, Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed the incident on Saturday.

He stated that one of the victims died on the spot, while another student was rushed to hospital in critical condition but later died in the early hours of yesterday.

He said operatives were "immediately deployed to the scene following a distress call" after the police received the report.

The injured victims were evacuated to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for urgent medical attention, and the corpses of the deceased were deposited in the morgue.

Eitokpah added that the driver of the truck fled before security operatives arrived, noting that a manhunt had been launched to apprehend the suspect.

"The command commiserates with the families of the deceased and prays for the speedy recovery of those currently receiving treatment," Eitokpah said. He urged motorists to exercise caution, maintain safe speed limits, and obey traffic regulations to prevent further loss of lives.