A Truck driver attached to a private firm in Edo State, ended up with a bad day after crushed his friend, Pa Egbe Eghobawaye, to death, moments after sharing a local gin, popularly known as Ogogoro, with him on Monday.
The freak accident happened when the driver visited Pa Eghobawaye, who was the Odionwere (oldest man) of Nekpenekpen Street, off First East Circular road in Benin City, and then requested for shots of the local gin from the wife of the deceased, who deals in the local gin.
After a brief chat and sharing of the Ogogoro with Pa Eghobawaye, said to be in his 80s, the driver decided to go back to his office, but lost control of his vehicle and crushed his friend to death who was shaving in front of his house.
The wife of the deceased who witnessed the incident, fainted and was rushed to a hospital where she was revived.
Angry residents descended on the driver, but he was rescued by some youths, who handed him over to the Police.
The Brother to the deceased, Mr. Solomon Omoregie, while speaking to newsmen, said:
“For a company driver to kill my brother like this, is very callous. We will not take the law into our hands and we have told our family members not to take any action by burning the vehicle or by killing the man. We want the police to take up the case and do what is necessary.”
The Octogenarian was since buried Monday night as he had earlier instructed his children to never deposit his corpse in a mortuary when he eventually dies.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Stephen Onwuche, disclosed that the driver has been arrested and that investigations were ongoing to ascertain the real cause of the incident.
