A delivery van loaded with bags of wheat Flour with registration number ABY 576 was yesterday involved in a gruesome road accident at Garrison Street in the Central Business District of Freetown.
A lady identified as a student of the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) was killed and three men and two boys who sustained severe injuries were rushed to the Connaught and Emergency Hospitals.
According to the driver Aruna Massaquoi of 65a Bangura Street, Calaba Town who was interviewed by the Officer in Charge of the Victoria Park Police Post Inspector Kelvin Samura said the vehicle had a brake failure while travelling along Rokel Street and while struggling to gain control he diverted it to Gloucester Street but because of tense traffic he turned the vehicle to Garrison street where he crushed to death the lady a student of the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM).
Two Majors of the RSLAF, one called Major T were also involved in the accident. The other victims are a Cobbler whose legs were destroyed, a book seller, a passerby and two school boys of Akibo -Betts and St. Edward’s Primary Schools.
A Book Seller’ Sheku Sesay with whom the deceased was negotiating the price for a novel said his back was turned towards the direction of the on-coming vehicle and he heard a loud bang. When he turned he saw the vehicle coming towards them and he ran away but the lady panicked and did not know where to run to and was crushed to death.
Also Sheku Kamara who helped to remove one of the boys under the van, emphasized that the deceased was dragged by the vehicle to the tentative perimeter fence of Victoria Park where she was crushed to death.
According to eyewitness account Major T went to a Cobbler to clean his shoe while his colleague was standing closeby waiting for him. Eventually the vehicle ran into them and seriously damaged the two soldiers and the Cobbler.
As at press time some survivors are presently at Connaught Hospital responding to medical treatment while some were taken to Emergency at Goderich.
The Driver is presently in Police custody but the owner of the van has failed to turn up.
By William Freeman and Abibatu Kamara
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