Dare Babalola
A tragic accident occurred on Thursday at the PWD Railway Level Crossing in Ikeja, Lagos, involving a train and a dispatch motorcycle (AGL 179 QR), resulting in a fatality, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed.
This was made public in a statement signed by Adebayo Taofiq, the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA.
Taofiq disclosed that preliminary investigations by security personnel at the scene suggest the dispatch rider was traveling at high speed and attempted to cross the railway track to access the GRA axis of Ikeja. Unfortunately, he collided with an oncoming train and died instantly upon impact.
He wrote, “As the first responders, LASTMA personnel promptly cordoned off the scene of the incident to avert secondary mishaps and ensure the free flow of vehicular movement within the area with support from security personnel from Shogunle Police Divisions.
“The State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) was immediately contacted and arrived at the scene to evacuate the remains of the deceased for appropriate action.”
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed profound sympathy to the bereaved family, describing the incident as “a distressing reminder of the dire consequences of impatience and disregard for traffic safety rules, particularly at railway level crossings.”
Bakare-Oki earnestly appealed to all dispatch riders and the motoring public to exercise utmost caution, patience, and discipline while on the road—especially around railway intersections.
He emphasized the importance of strict compliance with all traffic signals and government-installed warning signs, not only across Lagos State but throughout the federation, to prevent avoidable road tragedies.
The General Manager further reaffirmed LASTMA’s unwavering commitment to continuous public enlightenment, proactive enforcement, and safety advocacy in its mission to ensure sanity, discipline, and orderliness across the Lagos metropolis.
