A road rehabilitation effort in Ute, a community in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, turned tragic after a grader belonging to the council crushed a woman and her child to death following a brake failure.
The victims, whose identities had not been released at press time, were reportedly on their way to the farm when the grader, which was working on a local road project, lost control and fatally struck them.
The state police spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident, stating that an investigation into the circumstances of the accident had commenced.
Similarly, the Chairman of Ose Local Government, Mr. Clement Ojo, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and announced that a probe had been launched to uncover the mechanical failure that caused the crash.
“This is a loss that touches us all, not just as a government, but as members of one human family,” Ojo said in an emotional statement. “A hardworking mother and her innocent child set out to the farm like on any other day, only to have their lives cut short in the most heartbreaking way. No words can adequately express the sadness and regret we feel.”
Ojo added that the grader was part of a rural development initiative aimed at improving infrastructure in the area. “What was intended as a noble effort to improve access and infrastructure within the community has now become a moment of intense grief,” he said.
Authorities say measures will be taken to prevent a recurrence of such tragic incidents in future projects.
