By Samuel Oyadongha

Tragedy struck, weekend, at the Ekeki suburb of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, as a driver attached to a council chairman (name withheld) crushed a two-year-old girl.

The incident, which occurred along Mbiama/Yenagoa Road by Osiri Junction, Saturday at about 3.30p.m., according to eyewitnesses, was caused by recklessness on the part of the driver.

The dead child, identified as Kelechi Favour, was reported to have run into the road and was crushed.
A close staff of the council, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident happened during a private visit of the council boss.

The staff said: “After the chairman finished his visit, while trying to move the car to pick his principal, the driver drove in a rough manner and could not control the vehicle when the child suddenly ran into his path.”

Some of the family members, however, accused the police of trying to twist the incident report.

However, spokesman of the state Police Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said the report available to him did not mention that the driver was involved in the accident.

He said the report from the Ekeki divisional headquarters showed that it was a fatal motor and pedestrian accident.

He said: “On July 31, at about 3.30p.m. along the Mbiama/Yenagoa Road by Osiri Junction, a black Prado SUV, with unknown registration number, over sped and knocked down one Favour Kelechi, a female aged two. The victim was rushed to the hospital, but died a few minutes later.”