An over-speeding bank escort van yesterday crushed to death an eight-year-old passerby along Emir's Road near Oniyangi area of Ilorin metropolis in Kwara State.

The deceased, a twin sister of set of identical twins called Taiye, was said to have been hit by the vehicle while crossing the road.

An eyewitness said the driver of the vehicle conveying some policemen was said to be at high speed and so could not control the van to avert the accident.

The victim was said to have left Madrasa [Arabic and Islamic School] to buy a sachet of water by the main road and in the process of attempting to pick it, the oncoming vehicle hit her.

Because of the alleged reluctance of police officers inside the vehicle at rescuing the girl angered youths from the area to react. The youths, it was gathered, attempted to lynch the driver.

Police Public Relations Officer [PPRO] for the state, ASP Fabode Olufemi, who confirmed the accident, said there were no policemen in the vehicle at the point of the accident. The PPRO also said the youths were angry because they thought the vehicle belonged to the police, saying however that the people should not have taken laws in their own hands. He said the driver had been arrested and that investigation was ongoing.