Two dead in Lagos road accidents, driver arrested
Two persons died in separate accidents on the LASU-Igando route and the Osborne Motorway in Lagos State.
This comes as a truck driver involved in one of the incidents was apprehended by Lagos State Traffic Management Authority operatives on Sunday after losing control of his vehicle and colliding with a pedestrian on the Osborne Motorway, killing the victim on the scene.
A statement by Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment on Sunday noted that the first accident happened when the vehicle’s brakes failed, forcing the driver to lose control.
Taofiq noted that the driver, in a bid to avoid a collision with other vehicles ahead, rammed into a pedestrian walking by the roadside.
He stated, “The fatal incident occurred along Simpson Street, inward Ikoyi, on Osborne Expressway by the Traffic Light Junction, when the truck, reportedly travelling at an excessive velocity, experienced a sudden brake malfunction.
“In a frantic effort to avert a collision with vehicles ahead, the driver lost control of the vehicle and, in the ensuing chaos, rammed into a pedestrian walking along the roadside, instantly killing the victim.
“LASTMA officers, in a swift response, deployed an immediate emergency operation, professionally securing the accident scene to forestall further crashes and ensure the seamless flow of vehicular movement within the area.”
He added that LASTMA operatives arrested the driver and handed him over to the police, after which the police took the body of the victim to a morgue.
“The driver of the ill-fated truck was swiftly apprehended by LASTMA personnel and subsequently handed over to security operatives from the Dolphin Estate and Ikoyi Police Divisions for further interrogation and necessary legal procedures.
“The remains of the deceased pedestrian were respectfully evacuated from the accident scene by police officers and conveyed to a mortuary in Ebute Metta, pending formal identification by the victim’s family,” Taofiq added.
In a reaction to the accident, the LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condoled with the families of the deceased.
Reacting through Taofiq, the GM added, “The unfortunate accident underscores the imperative of routine vehicular inspection and maintenance, particularly for heavy-duty vehicles and articulated trucks operating within Lagos and beyond.”
While commending the operatives for their swift response, Bakare-Oki admonished drivers on the need for routine vehicular inspection and maintenance, and the importance of abiding by traffic rules at all times.
