Dare Babalola
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has stated that a suspected drunk driver crushed a yet-to-be-identified elderly female pedestrian to death in the Oke Odo area of Alimosho.
According to a statement by the Director of Public Affairs for LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the incident occurred on Monday.
Taofiq said the woman was crushed to death while she was walking by the roadside, quoting eyewitnesses to confirm that the driver was speeding uncontrollably before the crash.
The driver reportedly attempted to flee the scene but was apprehended by LASTMA officials, who were quickly mobilised to the area.
According Taofiq, “In a tragic and wholly preventable occurrence that once again accentuates the devastating consequences of intoxicated and reckless driving, an elderly woman met her untimely death over the weekend after being fatally struck by a white Pathfinder Jeep (registration number JJJ 118 HX) along Almaroof, inward Pleasure, Oke-Odo, Lagos.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the motorist, who was reportedly heavily under the influence of alcohol, was driving at a perilously high speed when he lost control of the vehicle following a brake failure. The vehicle veered off course and violently rammed into the unsuspecting woman who was innocently walking along the roadside.”
Taofiq further stated that, “The impact was catastrophic, resulting in her instantaneous demise. Swift-response operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) arrived promptly at the scene and, exhibiting commendable professionalism, apprehended the fleeing driver before he could abscond. The officers swiftly cordoned off the accident area to forestall secondary collisions and ensure the seamless flow of vehicular movement.”
He added that, “The Agency’s personnel immediately notified officers of the Ile-Epo Police Division, who responded with alacrity, providing security reinforcement and assuming control of the subsequent investigation. The severely damaged vehicle was thereafter towed from the scene and duly handed over to the Police for detailed examination and forensic analysis.”
Through a mobile phone retrieved from the deceased, LASTMA officers were able to contact and notify her family members of the tragic incident.
Reacting to the development, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep concern over the alarming frequency of fatal road crashes caused by drunk driving and the use of unfit vehicles on Lagos roads.
Bakare-Oki sternly reiterated that such acts of recklessness and moral decay would no longer be tolerated within the Lagos metropolis, stressing that individuals whose actions endanger human life would face the full weight of the law.
He also charged law enforcement agencies to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the matter and ensure that the suspect faces appropriate legal prosecution in line with existing traffic and criminal laws of the state.
“The sanctity of human life is inviolable. The continued slaughter of innocent citizens through sheer recklessness and moral irresponsibility is intolerable. Every motorist must imbibe discipline, sobriety, and an abiding respect for human life while navigating our roads,” Bakare-Oki said.
