Fleeing truck driver kills woman at Tin-Can Port

By GODFREY BIVBERE LAGOS—Tragedy struck yesterday at the Tin-Can Island Port, in Apapa area of Lagos, after a lady was crushed to death by a truck which driver was trying to escape from security personnel over the former’s refusal to pay a toll at the gate.
The incident, sparked off a protest as clearing agents and truck drivers took to the road, protesting what they described as  illegal collection of  toll by security agents comprising those from the Nigeria Ports Authority and Tin-Can Ports Police Command.
The protesters claimed the security agents usually collected N200 from big trucks and N100 for small trucks at both entering and exit.
Eye witnesses said the deceased whose identity could not be immediately ascertained was hawking when the unexpected happened. Driver of the truck, said to have escaped from the scene, was driving into the Port when he was accosted by the security agents who demanded for the sum of N200.
He reportedly refused to pay, maintaining that it was illegal and attempted to drive off. But the security agents reportedly chased him and in the process of trying to manoeuvre his way, he rammed into the female hawker who was standing on the pavement.
When Vanguard arrived the scene, the body of the hawker had been taken away .
Public Relations Officer of the Tin Can Island Port Complex, Mr. Segun Adesanya,  confirmed the incident to reporters, stating that  the truck driver  drove against traffic as security operatives  attempted  to  arrest him, and he ran over the woman, killing her instantly.