By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
Tragedy struck on Saturday morning in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, as a vulcanizer, simply known as Bolaji, was killed after stray tyres from an articulated vehicle knocked him down in front of his stand, at Fakunle area of the ancient town.
THE CONCLAVE reports that the accident, which occurred about 7 a.m., left many sympathisers traumatised, as the head of the deceased was reportedly broken by the impact of the tyres.
A witness, who was lucky to have escaped being knocked down by the tyres, explained that the two tyres, attached to a rim, bounced and knocked down the vulcanizer, who was standing in front of him.
He said the tyres later bounced off, after hitting the vulcanizer, to knock down a woman that was selling food close to the vulcanizer and her daughter.
“My friend Murphy and I were discussing with the vulcanizer, where he was brushing his teeth with a chewing stick, before a woman that was traveling to Ore/Ondo called him for direction.
“It was while giving direction to the woman that the tyres flew off from the vehicle, knocked him down, and killed him instantly.
“If he had not gone to attend to the woman, he would not have been hit by the tyres,” he said.
Our Correspondent learnt that the witness and other commercial motorcyclists later chased out the trailer driver, who veered into Ataoja Police Station in Osogbo after sensing danger.
The driver, according to reports, was now being detained by the police at the station, with the vehicle.
However, the other two persons knocked down by the tyres had been taken to Osun State University Teaching Hospital, where they were reportedly recuperating.
The late vulcaniser’s corpse was said to have been removed by his family members.
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