Tragedy struck on Thursday at Ikeja Along Bus Stop on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Lagos State, after a heavily loaded 40-foot container truck fell on a government meat van, crushed a passerby, and wounded several others
Eyewitnesses said the truck had swerved off the road to avoid colliding with some policemen, who were chasing a motorcycle rider, before the incident occurred around 9am.
The victim, identified as Samuel Ogunnaike, was an employee of a popular phone dealer in Computer Village, Ikeja, and was on his way to the office when he met his death.
Any hope that he could survive the accident was dashed after he was trapped for about four hours before his body was retrieved from the wreckage.
The van, Eko Meat Van, with number plate XY 433 AA was levelled after one of the containers fell on it. The driver and three passengers in the vehicle, however, escaped with injuries.
Eyewitnesses blamed the accident on the police.
One of them, Michael Energy, said overzealous policemen, who were chasing a motorcyclist, caused the confusion that led to the accident.
He said, “I was coming from Agege when I saw a commercial motorcyclist, popularly called okada, driving against traffic. He was carrying a man and a lady as passengers.
“Some police officers who were coming from Ikeja Along tried to stop him, but he ignored them.
“They gave him a chase and brushed the okada with their vehicle, which sent the rider and his passengers sprawling on the road.
“Another police van came, and seeing the scene, decided to wait. At this point, the two police vehicles blocked the road.
“The Eko meat van was coming on the same road, and since the police had blocked the major road, he had no option, but to stop.
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