By Emeka Nwokocha
Two persons were feared dead and scores of persons critically injured on Thursday 25, August, 2020, when a “monster vehicle” rammed into a crowd of guests at a traditional marriage ceremony in Umeh community, Isoko south local government area of Delta State.
Community source said, “On Thursday 25, a traditional marriage ceremony was holding at Umeh community with many quests in attendance when a vehicle carrying blocks suddenly lost control and rammed into a crowd of guests at the ceremony, triggering a pandemonium. The vehicle destroyed many canopies and injured many people, with about 5 persons in critical condition. Those in critical condition were rushed to hospital for treatment, but 2 have been reported dead currently including a retired headmaster of Umeh Primary School, Mr. Gabriel Ajimi.”
Continuing, the source said that the groom escaped death by the whiskers as he was quickly shoved out of danger by someone when the “monster vehicle” was heading towards his direction.
“The groom would have been crushed by the ill-fated vehicle, but he was quickly shoved off the danger spot by a guy as the vehicle headed towards him, before it finally stopped with some persons trapped under it. The fatally injured, including those trapped under the vehicle were rushed to hospital,” the source stated.
The source further stated that the the driver of the “monster vehicle” fled the scene, perhaps in fear of being lynched, adding that besides those critically injured, many persons sustained lesser injuries.