Tragedy As 16-Year-Old Boy Crushes Lagos Trader To Death While Testing Driving Skills

Mrs Tuale Iwejim

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, Surulere has confirmed the death of Mrs Tuale Iwejim after a young boy who is said to be 16-year-old reportedly crushed her with his parent’s car while testing his driving skills.

The horrible incident happened at the Arena Shopping Mall, Oshodi, Lagos State.

It was reported that the woman was on her way to buy more goods for her shop when the teenager hits her with his mom’s Sports Utility Vehicle. The boy reportedly hits the 50-year-old woman twice while still struggling to move the car in reverse mode.

It was learnt that the victim was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, Surulere, where she had surgery before her death on Thursday, September 4, 2020.

Speaking on the incident, the deceased’s husband, Christopher Iwejim, told newsmen that his wife suffered life-threatening injuries from the accident.

“We were told that the boy and his mother went to the market to buy some things. After they did, the woman asked the son to wait for her in the car so that she could go and pack the remaining items,” Mr Iwejim stated.

He continued, “While the boy was inside the car, somebody shouted that the vehicle was obstructing traffic and asked the occupant to park well. Instead of him to say he was not the driver, he took the key from the mother’s bag and started driving.

“He managed to engage the gear on drive, but forgot to use the brake. That was how he hit Tuale. While struggling to put it on reverse, he hit her again. She sustained what I will call first degree injuries on both legs from her waist down. The boy also damaged some billboards and structures in the market.”

Reports had it that the N400,000, which the Delta State indigene borrowed to get more goods for her shop in the market, was stolen swindled away while she was being extricated from the scene of the incident.

Expressing his sadness, the deceased’s son, Amos, said his mother had spent about three weeks at the hospital, where doctors battled to save her life.

He said, “When the accident happened, she was stuck in a gas cylinder, and when they tried to remove her, some parts of her flesh got torn. Her hip bone was divided from her body. It also appeared like there were iron rods in her leg and there was a hole in the leg,”

PUNCH Metro reports that a 50-50 sharing formula was agreed with the boy’s family of which the mother, identified as Victoria Ogunleye, appeared twice at the hospital with N100,000 on each of the visit.

It was learnt that the deceased’s family had spent about N1.5m before she finally gave up the ghost.

However, Amos revealed that he was surprised that while his mother was in the hospital, the military police released the vehicle to the Ogunleyes.

“The military police called my dad and said the woman wanted to pick her vehicle, and he told them not to release it. But to our surprise, they released the vehicle to the family,” he noted.

“LUTH later said they wanted to perform a surgery on her. A day after the surgery, she became unstable and they called my dad to ask if he could afford the ICU, because her breathing was not good. He agreed. They put her there, but she passed away the third day.”

The deceased’s son faulted the management of the hospital for not handling his mother’s condition properly, wondering how the case got complicated and led to her death.

Mr Iwejim also in his reaction, lamented that the military police have made no arrests and were more concerned about their damaged facilities. However, when contacted, the mother of the teenager refused to make any statement as she insisted she was busy.

A senior official of the military police, Captain Fidelis Ekwote, also declined comment when our correspondent asked about the alleged release of the vehicle involved in the accident.

“Come to the military police office in Ikeja cantonment. When you get there, you will get the facts. Ask for me or Captain Lawal,” he said.