A middle-aged woman and her child were on Tuesday crushed to death in Akure, the state capital on Tuesday.

The victims, whose identities were yet to be ascertained as of press time, were knocked down by a Toyota Sienna at the Okeogba axis of the state capital.

According to sources, the vehicle was at top speed before its brake failed and in turn, killed the mother and her child on the spot.

Meanwhile, a nine-year-old girl identified as Testimony was burnt to death in a fire that engulfed an apartment in the Samakinwa area of Ondo town, headquarters of the Ondo West Local Council Area of the state.

The minor, who was mentally challenged, was said to have been locked inside one of the rooms in a four-bedroom flat by her guardian, who had gone to church when the unfortunate incident occurred.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire was allegedly caused by an electrical surge, after which it engulfed the building, destroying several properties belonging to the occupants.

Despite efforts by residents, especially the youths in the area, to rescue her, attempts were unsuccessful as the door to the room was securely locked.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Yaba Division, CSP Victor Olowolagba, led a team of officers to the scene to commence an investigation.

Olowolagba confirmed that four persons had been invited for questioning as part of efforts to determine the exact cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.

Reacting to the tragedy, the youth leader of the area, Comrade Akinbinuade Akinyemi, expressed sorrow over the incident and decried the recurring cases of fire outbreaks in the community.