Lagos Truck driver nabbed for crushing pedestrians to death

The police in Lagos have arrested the driver of a truck, Friday Egbe, for allegedly crushing two pedestrians to death in a fatal accident along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway area of the state.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Egbe, who drove the truck with number plate XV 523 SMK, swerved off the road and crushed the victims to death at about 8pm on Thursday. The victims ─ three males ─ were said to be glancing through newspapers at a newstand.

Our correspondent gathered that Egbe, a resident of Mafoluku area, Oshodi, was arrested by policemen from the Makinde Police Division, while his truck was reportedly towed away to the compound of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.

According to a resident, who claimed to be an eyewitness, Mr. Sola Shodipo, Egbe would have been mobbed by angry pedestrians, but for the intervention of the police.

He said, “The driver was coming from Bolade, Oshodi, and was heading towards Apapa. Just a few minutes before the accident, policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad, asked the people standing by the roadside to read newspapers to move back from the expressway. If not for their instructions, the truck could have crushed more victims.

“In a moment, the truck just swerved off the road and ran over two persons. One pedestrian died instantly while the other’s leg was broken before he died. The driver was about to be mobbed by the crowd, but the RRS police rescued him from their hands.

“They stripped him and brought him inside their armour tank for questioning. Later when the police from Makinde arrived, they handed him over to them.”

Our correspondent learnt that apart from the two corpses, the truck also injured another male, Nura Mohammed, who was presently recuperating in a hospital, and damaged a commercial bus with no passenger.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrest.

He added that Egbe would be charged to court on Tuesday (Today.)

He said, “The suspect drove a Mack Truck container. The male corpse is yet to be identified, but he has been deposited at a hospital in Yaba for autopsy.

“The truck driver hit another commercial bus driven by one Okechukwu Ayanboso. Meanwhile, the suspect will be charged to court on Tuesday.”