Dare Babalola
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority on Sunday confirmed the death of a police officer in a fatal road accident involving a Lexus vehicle and a Bajaj motorcycle on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.
In a statement issued by LASTMA Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, the agency said the incident occurred around the Adekunle axis inward Iyana Oworo when the driver of a Lexus Jeep with registration number EPE 765 JN allegedly rammed into a police officer riding a Bajaj motorcycle.
According to the statement, the police officer died instantly at the scene of the accident, while the driver of the Lexus vehicle reportedly turned himself in at the Adekunle Police Division shortly after the incident.
LASTMA disclosed that its officials, alongside officers of the Nigeria Police Force, swiftly responded to distress calls from the area to commence traffic management and emergency response operations.
“Upon receipt of distress alerts, officials of LASTMA swiftly mobilised to the scene alongside officers of the Nigeria Police Force to initiate immediate traffic control, emergency safety measures and preliminary incident management procedures,” the statement read.
The agency added that traffic cones and other safety devices were strategically placed around the affected section of the bridge to prevent secondary accidents and ensure the safety of other motorists while police officers carried out documentation and investigation.
It further stated that evacuation and recovery operations were immediately activated to remove the affected vehicles and restore normal traffic flow along the corridor.
Despite the fatal incident, LASTMA noted that traffic movement around the area remained under control due to the prompt intervention and operational efficiency of officers deployed to the scene.
Reacting to the development, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads and obey traffic regulations.
He stressed the need for drivers to avoid reckless driving, maintain speed limits, and adopt responsible driving habits to reduce avoidable road accidents and fatalities across Lagos State.
