Tragedy struck on Wednesday at the Secretariat end of CMD Road, Ikosi Ketu, Lagos, after a tricycle rider, Christian Ugochukwu, was crushed to death by a truck.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the truck driver, John Monday, had bashed the victim’s tricycle earlier on Shangisha Road and refused to stop.
The victim was reported to have parked his tricycle and chased the truck.
He reportedly caught up with it at the Secretariat bus stop and hung to its side door.
The driver reportedly flung the door open and Ugochukwu fell.
He was subsequently crushed to death by the truck’s back tyres.
A witness, who did not identify himself, said the incident happened around 1.30pm.
He said, “Christian (Ugochukwu) plied the Shangisha route and he was in his tricycle when the passing truck bashed it.
“The truck driver continued his movement as if nothing happened. He also didn’t heed the cry of the man to pull over. So, Christian started chasing the truck, caught up with it and hanged to its door.
“He had a stick in his hand and he used it to threaten the driver that he would hit him if he didn’t stop.
“The driver suddenly opened the door and he fell. The back tyres climbed on him and he died. It was a bad sight.”
It was learnt that immediately the incident happened, the driver sped off.
Another witness said a crowd mobilised and chased the truck driver, adding that he was caught at a filling station in the Otedola Bridge area.
A police source said the driver and his conductor were rescued by policemen from the Isheri division, joined by officers of the Metro Patrol and Safer Highway.
“The driver said he drove to the filling station to escape being lynched by the mob, who had petrol to pour on him.
“He was rescued alive and taken to the station along with the man’s corpse. The corpse was later deposited in the Iyana Isolo General Hospital morgue,” he added.
Our correspondent was told that Ugochukwu’s wife had just been delivered of a baby on the morning of the incident.
He was said to be looking for money for hospital bill when tragedy struck.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that the suspect would be charged to court at the end of investigations.
She said, “The suspect is in our custody and he is assisting with investigations. Meanwhile, the victim’s corpse has been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy.”