Dare Babalola
A tragic road accident involving a truck has claimed the lives of a pedestrian and a motorcyclist along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Lagos State.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq. According to the statement, the crash occurred at the Iyana-Iba Flyover, inward the main gate of Lagos State University.
LASTMA said preliminary investigations indicated that the fully loaded bucket truck was speeding from the Volkswagen area toward Badagry when it struck and killed a pedestrian attempting to cross the road.
Rather than stopping after the initial collision, the truck driver allegedly continued driving, prompting outrage from bystanders at the scene.
The agency stated that a motorcyclist, accompanied by another concerned individual, chased after the truck in an attempt to force the driver to stop and answer for the first victim’s death.
However, the chase reportedly ended in another fatal incident after the truck rammed into the motorcycle, killing the rider instantly. The second person on the motorcycle escaped without injury.
Officials of LASTMA’s Night Gang Surveillance and Monitoring Patrol Team later arrived at the scene and carried out rescue and evacuation operations. The agency said the body of the deceased motorcyclist had become trapped beneath the front tyre of the truck and was carefully removed.
The truck driver was immediately apprehended and handed over to officers at the PPL Police Post in Okokomaiko, alongside personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps for further investigation.
Authorities said the remains of the motorcyclist were taken away by FRSC officials, while the body of the pedestrian was released to family members after they were informed.
Both the truck involved in the crash and the damaged motorcycle were also taken to the police post as investigations continue.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the crash as heartbreaking and blamed reckless driving, especially among heavy-duty vehicle operators.
He urged motorists to obey speed regulations and remain cautious at all times, adding that the agency would sustain strict enforcement, surveillance and emergency response measures across roads in Lagos State.
