by Rachel Ogbu

A man has been charged to court for manslaughter after knocking down a 63-year-old grandmother, Elizabeth Toby-Lade with his car while she was in her home.

At the time of the fatal accident, Toby-Lade who sold water and drinks in her house in Fadeyi Street, Ikeja, was in her compound with her grandson and the child of another resident when a Sports Utility Vehicle, drove uncontrollably into the compound hitting them in the process.

The driver, Samson Orofin was said to have been trying to make a U-turn on the narrow street when he first drove in through the open gates of the compound to get enough room for a turn but didn’t engage the gear in the reverse.

Spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident and said the suspect had been charged to court.

[READ: Tragedy: Groom, 3 relatives die in auto crash on their way to wedding ]

The Punch reports:

The deceased’s 77-year-old husband, Joseph Toby-Lade told PUNCH Metro that he had yet to get over the shock because he witnessed the incident.

He said, “My wife sold drinks in our compound and her shop is located at the entrance. She was looking after our grandson and the son of one of our neighbours while I was at the balcony. There was heavy traffic on the street and because the main gate was open, the driver of a Toyota Land cruiser with plate number EPE960AC, drove in to a make a U-turn.

“Probably the driver put the gear in drive instead of reverse because immediately he accelerated, he rammed into my wife and she hit her head against the wall. The vehicle continued to move and it hit my grandson, Evans Toby-Lade, and a resident’s son, Usman, before ramming into one of the pillars of my house.

“I quickly rushed downstairs and we took them to Holy Trinity Hospital which is opposite my house. The kids were treated for head injuries, but the doctors told me that my wife was in critical condition, so she was referred to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.”

Joseph, who was an engineer with Daily Times and Nigeria Printing and Minting Company, told PUNCH Metro that he took his wife to LASUTH immediately.

He said, “My wife was not breathing properly when we got to LASUTH. I asked the nurses to put her on oxygen but they said they did not have oxygen. I told them I was willing to buy and they said Holy Trinity Hospital should have provided the oxygen.

“Around 6pm, on May 21, 2013, my wife died.”

A copy of the death certificate made available to our correspondent stated that Elizabeth died of “head injury and cardio pulmonary arrest.”

The deceased’s husband said he could not imagine life without his wife, adding that everything happened so suddenly.

He said, “We were married for 47 years and we had six children and over 10 grand children. We were happy and we understood each other. We were always together because I have a business centre just beside her shop.

“My wife loved children and my grandchildren have been asking me where grandma is. It is just too sad.”

Our correspondent learnt that the deceased would be buried in Lagos on July 12.

It was also learnt that the suspect had been arrested by the Ikeja Police Division.

A copy of the police report made available to our correspondent stated that the matter had been transferred to the traffic section of the police station for further investigation.