Train crushes architect to death while rushing to work...SEE PHOTO

The said victim, Smith was said to be in a rush to his workplace

around 7am and was crossing the railway tracks when he was hit.

Eyewitnesses, who spoke with a source ,said the deceased, a devout

Muslim, who was fondly called Alfa, could have been saved if help had

come his way on time.

A mechanic in the area, Biodun Adebanjo, said Smith had only recently

had a baby with his wife.

He said, "It was around 7am when he alighted from the bus he had

boarded to Cappa. His workplace is just a few kilometres away.

"Immediately he alighted, he started racing towards the railway

tracks, apparently he was in a hurry and was oblivious of the hooting

of the train.

"As he approached the tracks, an area boy wanted to grab him and stop

him from crossing, but he thought he wanted to rob him and forcefully

pulled himself away.

"By the time he realised the danger he was in, it was too late. He

tried to turn back, but the train hit his right leg and slammed

against his body."

Another witness, who spoke on the condition of her name not being

published, told a source that immediately the incident occurred,

symphatisers rushed to the scene and dragged him to the side of the

railway tracks. He said the victim was still breathing, but in dire

need of medical help.

He added that efforts to get emergency workers to come to the scene

were abortive as they reportedly did not show up until 10am, about

three hours after the incident.

Austin Edi,another witness lamented that policemen, who passed the

area, merely looked and moved on.

He said, "People kept calling the emergency lines, but they just said

they were coming. Policemen around the area did not even make any

effort to save the victim. It was around 10am that his remains were

removed by an ambulance."

It was gathered that the victim's colleagues also came around and

later informed his relatives about the incident.

When firstclass newsline crew visited Esther Oshiyemi Street where

Smith worked in a construction firm as an architect. The office was

locked.

Some residents around told firstclass newsline crew that the

management of the company took the decision to mourn him.

A resident, Bisiriyu Oladimeji, described late Smith as a religious

man, who was noted for his gentleness.

He said the information making the rounds that the victim blocked his

ears with earpiece and was listening to music when the incident

happened, was not true.

"I know him very well. I have not even seen him use earpiece before.

He was soft-spoken and easygoing. We call him Alfa. It's just

unfortunate and nobody knows what he was thinking that blocked his

mind," he said.

It was learnt that train accident had become recurrent in the Cappa area.

A man, who declined to give his name, said no fewer than three people

had died in recent times.

He said, "Just in August last year, a man was crushed to death at the

same spot. Shortly after this man (Alfa) was killed this morning,

another lady was almost crushed to death at the same spot.

"We were the ones who shouted and stopped her from killing herself.

There have been many more like that."

He attributed the incidents to frustration, appealing to the

government to build demarcation fences and station train officials at

the spot.

Firstclassnewsline.net