Dare Babalola
A yet-to-be-identified cyclist has lost his life after a collision with a DAF articulated truck in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.
According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the incident occurred on Monday under the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Bridge at the traffic signal corridor along Airport Road.
A statement issued via X by LASTMA’s Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department head, Adebayo Taofiq, stated that both the cyclist and the truck were coming from the Maryland axis when the cyclist failed to maintain a safe distance from the heavy-duty vehicle.
“In the course of this perilous convergence, the cyclist was reportedly unable to maintain a safe clearance from the moving truck.
“Within a matter of moments, the situation escalated disastrously, resulting in the cyclist being violently crushed and succumbing to fatal injuries on the spot,” the statement read.
LASTMA officials who were managing traffic in the area responded promptly and apprehended the truck driver, who reportedly attempted to flee.
He was subsequently handed over to officers at the Ikeja Police Division for investigation and possible prosecution.
Authorities also evacuated the victim from the roadway to prevent further incidents and restore normal traffic flow.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and described the loss as tragic.
He urged cyclists and commercial motorbike operators to exercise caution and prioritise safety while using Lagos roads, stressing the need to comply strictly with traffic regulations and avoid expressways and other high-risk routes.
Giwa noted that the state government has continued public awareness campaigns to educate vulnerable road users on safe road practices, including restricting movement to inner roads.
He added that the directive applies to skateboard users and other non-motorised road users.
The Lagos State Government, through LASTMA, reaffirmed its commitment to road safety enforcement, public education and the protection of all road users, urging motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to obey traffic laws to prevent avoidable tragedies.
