A yet-to-be-identified driver has allegedly caused the death of a nine-year-old boy and injured four others after losing control of his vehicle due to suspected speeding and crashing into the children.
A statement by the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, revealed that the incident occurred at about 2:31pm along Wole Olateju Crescent in the Lekki area of the state.
Adeseye noted that preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle lost control due to overspeeding and rammed into the children, who were standing at the gate of a house in the area.
Four of the five children, aged between eight and 13, were said to have sustained severe injuries, while the fifth child was feared dead.
A video of the accident scene showed the lifeless body of the deceased child with blood gushing from his head.
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She stated, “The incident involved a Lexus RX 300 jeep with registration number GGE 750BM, which occurred at No. 1, Wole Olateju Crescent, Kingshisha, Lekki Phase 1, off Admiralty Road, within Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State.
“Preliminary reports indicate that the vehicle (Lexus jeep), while allegedly overspeeding, lost control and ran into five male children aged between eight and 13 years who were at the gate of the above-mentioned address.
“Four of the victims were rescued alive but sustained severe injuries and were subsequently conveyed to an undisclosed hospital by sympathisers. One male child, aged nine years, was suspected dead at the scene.”
The LSFRS boss noted that the matter was subsequently handed over to the police.
“The vehicle involved and the victims sustained varying degrees of damage and injuries. The affected vehicle was later evacuated by a private towing company with registration number GGE 812HX and taken to the Maroko Police Station.
“Officers from the Maroko Police Division were present at the scene and took over for further investigation.”