A Toyota Hilux Van has crushed a would-be groom to death in Ikyangeduo Community, Keana Local Government Area of Benue State, Oceanicnews reports.
The tragedy occurred as the groom, Mr John Abugu went to pick up his wedding suit at the dry cleaners located nearby, only to be run over by a Hilux Truck as he made to cross the road without properly watching for oncoming vehicles.
According to Daily Trust, Mr Julius Abugu, a friend of the deceased who was with him when the tragic incident occurred, the incident took place around 8:30 am as the deceased was already in a haste to be at the wedding mass which was to hold by 10:am that day.
Julius said: “I can’t really explain how the whole event turned out that way. John (Abugu) was full of life and we were together going up and down to see that the arrangement was in order.
‘He really looked forward to the wedding’
“He was so happy that he was going to get married the next day. He was busy the previous day receiving his friends who were coming from long distances.
“We went to see the drycleaner the previous day, but because there was no light, he could not iron the suit. But he assured that once there was light in the night, he would do it for us to pick it up early in the morning the next day, and that was what we did.
“When he wanted to go to the dry cleaner, I insisted that I would ride the motorcycle but he said I shouldn’t worry, that he would ride. He was actually telling me about one of his friends whom he was expecting that morning to use his car to convey them to the church for the wedding and after the wedding.
“Due to the excitement in him, he didn’t look at both sides of the road before entering the highway where the Hilux hit the two of us. We both sustained injuries but he was more affected, and we were rushed to the hospital immediately.
“Even at the hospital, we were being treated together. But a few minutes later, his situation worsened as he was bleeding from his ears, eyes and nose, and he suddenly died.”