Driver arrested as truck crushes Ondo VIO officer

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 37-year-old driver, Ayoade Idowu, after a Vehicle Inspection Office official, Sesan Adediji, was allegedly crushed to death while attempting to stop his vehicle for a routine check in Akure, the state capital.

The incident occurred at about 9.30am on Friday along Hospital Road, opposite Mega Primary School, when the driver allegedly drove off after being asked to produce the vehicle’s particulars, hitting the 35-year-old officer in the process.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, adding that the driver had been arrested and detained as investigations commenced.

According to Jimoh, preliminary information indicated that Adediji was on routine patrol with his colleagues when they flagged down a white Mitsubishi van, with registration number AGL 992 XX, for inspection.

“The driver initially stopped but allegedly drove off when asked to produce the relevant documents, hitting the VIO official in the process,” the police spokesman said.

Adediji reportedly sustained serious head injuries and was rushed to the Federal University of Technology Akure Teaching Hospital, where a doctor confirmed him dead.

His remains were deposited in the hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy, Jimoh added.

A video of the incident circulating on social media showed the officer trapped beneath the vehicle as residents and his colleagues struggled to pull him out.

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An eyewitness said the officer was attempting to stop the vehicle when the incident occurred.

“He was on the road trying to stop the truck, but we don’t know what happened. Suddenly, we heard the sound that somebody was knocked down. The vehicle rammed over him. By the time people rushed down there, he was in his pool of blood,” the eyewitness said.

Jimoh said police operatives had visited the scene, while the case file was expected to be transferred to the Motor Traffic Division for further investigation.

He assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted and that appropriate legal action would follow in accordance with the law.

The police command urged motorists to obey lawful traffic instructions and cooperate with authorised enforcement officers.

“No road user should endanger the life of another in an attempt to evade routine checks or traffic regulations,” the statement added.