FIVE people on Monday afternoon sustained varying degree of injuries when a truck load of sand crushed two tricycles popularly called as Keke Marwa on Old Lagos expressway roundbout, New Garage, beside Total filling station, Ibadan.
The driver of the red coloured truck, was said to have lost control due to brake failure as it was heading towards the big roundabout new garage, thus swerved towards the right turning thus hitting a man, who was later identified Abdul Raheem Rafiu, and crushed two Marwa tricycles coming from Orita/Molete side on the other aide of the road.
The accidents caused gridlock on the dual carriage way as the police team, YES O and sympathisers assisted in removing the two accidental tricycles under the truck.
One of the Marwa cycles, had three occupants who were also injured in the accident and the second had only one occupants, including Mr Rafiu were rushed to LAD Medical Centre, Orita-Challenge, Ibadan.
The driver of the Marwa who had three occupants said he narrowly missed being crushed by the truck.
In an interview with journalists, Mr Adeniji Olayiwola, who said he purchased the tricycle over a year ago and had just changed its engine worth N280,000 few months said “I was collecting money from a passenger who alighted from my tricycle when I noticed a big fast movement towards my side with loud voice of people.
“On sighting a vehicle moving towards my side, I bolted away from my tricycle. I sustained non injury but the three occupants were not so lucky but sustained injuries on their legs and arms.”
He noted that no one died in the accident stating specifically that some petty traders always had their wares spread on the spot where the truck crushed the two tricycles, but stated that a male onion seller and two other women also escaped from the scene before the truck crashed.
When Nigerian Tribune visited the victims at Lad Medical centre, Ibadan, Mr AbdulRaheem Rafiu said he was about to cross the road and was on the median when he just heard a big bang.
He informed further that the next thing he realised that happened to him was seeing some people trying to remove him under the truck.
According to Rafiu who was reeling in pains on the hospital bed,”I left my house to seek for my daily bread and was about to cross the road when I was hit by the truck which they told me had brake failure.
“I have just being told that the bone of my upper arm had broken and I have been slated for X-ray to further ascertain the level of damage. You can see the injury on my legs, head and deep cut on the upper arm of my right arm.”
Other victims were said to be receiving treatment in their various wards, one of them who had his two legs already padded with straighten objects was being spoonfeed on the hospital bed.
When contacted the Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Oyo State Police Command, Gbenga Fadeyi confirmed the accident and said three people sustained injury including a woman with fracture on her leg.
He further disclosed that “the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Challenge is currently investigating the obstruction.”
