The tragic passing of Omotayo Samuel-Pepple, a 49-year-old Nigerian woman, after being hit by a bus in Winnipeg, Canada, has left her family seeking clarity on the incident.
On September 16, 2025, Samuel-Pepple was standing at a bus stop when she was struck by the vehicle. She was immediately transported to the hospital with critical internal injuries and multiple broken bones. Despite undergoing three surgeries, she suffered cardiac arrest and ultimately passed away.
Her sister, Mary Oloyede, voiced the family’s frustration over the lack of clear information surrounding the accident.
“We want to know if the driver was under the influence. What exactly transpired? The police are still investigating, but we hope more details will emerge soon,” she stated.
Oloyede also criticized the delay in notifying the family, revealing they were informed eight hours after the crash.
“She was conscious and responsive at the scene. Even if I wasn’t there, someone-a friend or a church member-should have been contacted to be with her at the hospital. But no one reached out to us,” she added.
Samuel-Pepple had relocated to Canada in 2024 to pursue studies in human resource management at the University of Manitoba. Her family shared that she intended to reunite with her husband and three children, aged 14, 17, and 21, who remain in Nigeria.
Oloyede is calling on authorities to ensure the bus driver is held responsible and is appealing to the public for any dashcam footage or relevant information.
“If anyone has footage or details, please come forward. It would bring some peace to the family to understand what happened,” she urged.
The incident has sparked debate over the response by officials following the accident. Shared Health, Manitoba’s provincial health authority, defended their protocol, explaining, “Our adult emergency department staff do not routinely contact next of kin for every patient. Their primary focus is delivering compassionate and timely care. Once sufficient information is obtained, efforts are made to notify family members.”
Winnipeg police emphasized that family notification is a priority.
“We aim to inform families promptly and in person whenever possible. However, challenges such as verifying identities, limited family information, or geographic obstacles can delay this process. In such cases, assistance from external agencies may be required,” a police spokesperson explained.
The investigation into the collision is ongoing. According to authorities, traffic accident inquiries often involve detailed scene reconstruction, video review, and witness interviews.
Samuel-Pepple leaves behind her husband, children, and mother, who continue to grieve her untimely loss.
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