A Vehicle Inspection Officer, Sesan Adediji, 35, was crushed to death by a truck in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during a routine check of vehicle documents on Friday.

The fatal accident occurred opposite Mega Primary School along Hospital Road within the metropolis at about 9:30 a.m. when the officer attempted to intercept the truck for inspection.

According to eyewitness accounts, the officer stepped in front of the oncoming vehicle in an effort to compel the driver to stop, but the truck, which was already travelling on the fast lane, could not be halted in time, resulting in the officer being fatally crushed.

One of the eyewitnesses, who identified herself simply as Busayo, recounted the harrowing scene, explaining that the deceased officer was standing directly in front of the vehicle while attempting to flag it down for inspection.

“The VIO officer was standing in front of the truck, trying to stop it for inspection. But the vehicle was already on the fast lane, and before anyone could realize what was happening, it had already knocked him down,” she said.

Busayo added that the incident happened so quickly that it took several minutes before the body of the deceased VIO could be pulled out from under the truck. Following the accident, sympathizers and passersby gathered at the scene, while his colleagues, visibly shocked over the fatal accident, called for rescue.

The Ondo State Police Command, in a statement, confirmed the incident, stressing that it involved a white Mitsubishi van with registration number AGL 992 XX, driven by one Ayoade Idowu, 37, of Gbogi Street, Akure.

In the statement signed by the police spokesperson in the state, it was stated that the driver initially stopped but allegedly drove off when asked to produce the relevant documents, hitting the VIO official in the process.

He said, “The victim sustained serious head injuries and was immediately rushed to the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) Teaching Hospital, where he was subsequently confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

“His remains have been deposited at the hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

“The driver has been arrested and detained, while preliminary investigations are ongoing. Police operatives have visited the scene and commenced investigations. The case file is expected to be transferred to the Motor Traffic Division for further investigation.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Felix Ohagwu, psc, mnips, mspsp, expressed his condolences to the family, colleagues, and associates of the deceased over the tragic loss. He assured the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted and that appropriate legal action would follow in accordance with the law.”