Tragedy struck yesterday morning in the Igando area of Lagos when a pick up van carrying sachet water rammed into traders at a bus stop, killing four person, while several others were injured.
Although the police confirmed two persons dead, an eyewitness said four persons died on the spot. It was gathered that at about 9 a.m., a pick up van with registration number APP 996 XB carrying bags of sachet water lost control and rammed into traders and other passers-by.
An eyewitness, John Okubo, who escaped the accident by the whiskers, said: “We were standing on the road, when I noticed that a pick-up van going inward Isheri-Olofin, had veered off the road and was moving very fast towards us, I took to my heels. As soon as I ran for cover, I heard a loud bang and cries of people. When I regained stability, I saw many people on the ground. Some were dead, while others were crying in anguish.
“Well, I saw four persons that died on the spot. And I am suspecting that more may have died, because the injuries sustained by most of them were such that it will take a miracle for them to survive.”
He added that the driver might not survive as some meat sellers around the scene beat him to a pulp. “Immediately the accident occurred, the driver of the vehicle attempted to escape but he was arrested by angry meat sellers and butchers around the place and he was beaten to a pulp before officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) rescued him and took him to the hospital,” he said.
“I must be candid, I saw three women stone dead. I know the one that was selling pepper. I know the other one who was selling onions and another one who just alighted from a tricycle (Keke NAPEP). They were taken to the Igando General Hospital morgue in an Ambulance belonging to Lagos State Government.
However, Lagos State police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide said only two persons died while several others were injured.
She said, “at about 9.00am, a pick up van with registration number APP 996 XB blue/yellow colour ran into some traders killing two persons while others were injured.”
She said the driver of the van identified as Fredrick Stanley has been arrested while the vehicle has equally been impounded by the police.
She said the police were still investigating to find out the cause of the accident.
She advised vehicle owners and drivers to always maintain their vehicles to forestall unwarranted accidents caused by negligence of vehicle owners or drivers.
THE SUN
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