A hit-and-run driver in Lagos, who rammed his Nissan van into a family of four on New Year’s Day in the Ikotun area of the metropolis is currently being trailed by the Police in the State.
The accident has left the family of an employee of the Lagos State University, Sylvester Aibor, whose wife and three children were knocked down by the pickup van, in mourning as one of his children, Faith, died as a result.
Accoridng to Punch Metro, Sylvester and his family members were on their way home after attending the crossover service around 5.30am on Tuesday, January 1, 2019, when the driver of the pickup van, with number plate APP 990 XQ, suddenly lost control of the vehicle and rammed two other vehicles and four members of the family, who were walking on the sidewalk.
It was gathered that Sylvester’s wife and children were trapped underneath the vehicle and that it took the intervention of good Samaritans to rescue them.
The father of the deceased, who said the family members were on their way to board a bus at the Ikotun bus stop when the accident happened, added that he was not involved in the accident because he was ahead of the others.
Sylvester stated,
“My family and I went to the Christ Apostolic Church on Monday, December 31, 2018, for crossover service to the New Year. After the service, we were walking to the bus stop to board a bus home when the vehicle suddenly appeared and cleared the vehicles in its front and all the people on the sidewalk, including members of my family.
“Nobody saw the driver after the accident, because everywhere was dark. But my wife and three children were trapped underneath the pickup van. I would have been affected if not that I was walking in the front, while my wife and children were coming behind. If not for the help of good Samaritans, my family would not have been rescued alive.
“The passersby were the ones who assisted in lifting the first and second cars up and brought out my wife and children from underneath the van.
“Immediately they brought them out, we rushed them to the J Spring Hospital, but the medical personnel on duty asked N100,000 before attending to them. Everybody shouted at them to save the lives of my family members but they refused.
It was a police patrol van that came to take us away from there to the Unita Hospital around 6.30am. It was at that hospital that my family was attended to and for a moment, I heaved a sigh of relief that all would be well.”
The father of three said while his wife, Eucharia; son, Odion, 23; and daughter, Favour, 20, were responding to treatment at the hospital, his 14-year-old daughter, Faith, who suddenly began gasping for breath, was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja on the recommendation of the doctor.
He added that despite his being a staff member of LASU, his daughter, who was alive when they got to the emergency department of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, died because no one was available to attend to her.
Sylvester stated,
“My wife and two of my children were responding to treatment at the Unita Hospital. But all of a sudden, my 14-year-old daughter started gasping for breath and the doctor advised that we should quickly take her to the LASUTH. A police ambulance came to convey us there, but when we got to the emergency unit, no one attended to us until she gave up the ghost around 10am.
“If she had received immediate medical attention, she would have been revived, but all they were saying was that they were busy. I told them I am a staff of LASU, but they didn’t budge; the police even escorted us there but the medical personnel were not moved. All they were saying was that they were coming.
I even called the Registrar of LASU, who called the Provost of LASUTH, but they still didn’t do anything until my daughter died.
“Later, they told the Vice-Chancellor of LASU that my daughter was brought to the hospital dead; that statement was completely false, because I have witnesses who knew that she was alive when we got to LASUTH.”
The Lagos State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, who confirmed the accident, said the driver of the pickup van fled the scene, adding that investigation into the matter was ongoing.
“It was a multiple road accident involving three vehicles; the driver, who caused the accident, took to his heels immediately he realised what he had done.
“However, we are on his trail; the other two drivers involved in the accident have been questioned and released on administrative bail, while investigation into the case is ongoing with the aim of arresting the fleeing driver. The vehicles involved in the accident were impounded.”
