The people of Ute, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State were on Monday thrown into mourning following the crushing to death of a mother and her child by a grader belonging to the local government.
The grader was rehabilitating a road along the Olujewu-Igbatoro road within the local government.
Local sources said the people of the community wailed uncontrollably over the development.
The victims were on their way to the farm when the incident occurred.
The Chairman of the council, Kolapo Ojo, who described the incident as regrettable, stated that a full investigation into the cause of the mechanical failure had commenced.
He said, "The tragic accident, which occurred as a result of brake failure in a grader owned by the local government and deployed for road rehabilitation under our rural development programme, has brought great pain to all of us.
"What was intended as a noble effort to improve access and infrastructure within the community has now become a moment of intense grief. This is a loss that touches us all, not just as a government, but as members of one human family.
"A hard-working mother and her innocent child set out for 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 as a government and as a people."