Dare Babalola
A driver lost his life in a lone accident involving a Honda Pilot Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway at Charity Bus Stop, inward Iyana Isolo, Lagos, in the early hours of Saturday.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority said its officials, working alongside officers of the Nigeria Police Force, carried out a swift rescue and recovery operation following the fatal crash.
According to preliminary findings, the vehicle suddenly lost control and overturned several times before coming to a stop. The impact of the crash reportedly killed the driver instantly, leaving the victim trapped inside the wreckage.
LASTMA said its personnel, who were on traffic monitoring duty around the Iyana Isolo axis when the incident occurred, quickly responded to the emergency alongside officers from the Mosafejo Police Division.
The officials successfully extricated the deceased from the mangled vehicle while ensuring the free flow of traffic and preventing further accidents along the busy corridor.
Following the recovery operation, the remains of the victim were evacuated by the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) to a public mortuary in line with established procedures.
The damaged vehicle was subsequently handed over to the Mosafejo Police Division, which has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sadness over the loss of life and extended condolences to the deceased’s family.
“Motorists are strongly urged to eschew reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, excessive speeding and every form of traffic infraction capable of precipitating avoidable tragedies on our roads. The sanctity and preservation of human life must remain paramount in the conduct of every road user. No journey is so urgent as to justify compromising safety,” Bakare-Oki said.
He also advised motorists to exercise caution, obey speed limits and comply with traffic regulations, particularly during late-night and early-morning journeys when visibility and alertness may be reduced.
