Dare Babalola
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has apprehended the driver of a Mercedes Benz truck involved in a fatal accident that claimed the life of a pedestrian along Osborne Road, Ikoyi area of the state.
The development was confirmed by Adebayo Taofiq, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, in a statement on Sunday.
According to Taofiq, the incident occurred when the truck, allegedly traveling at high speed, suffered a mechanical brake failure, causing the driver to lose control and ram into the pedestrian.
He wrote, “In a frantic effort to avert a collision with vehicles ahead, the driver lost control of the vehicle and, in the ensuing chaos, rammed into a pedestrian walking along the roadside instantly killing the victim.”
He added that LASTMA officers in a swift response deployed an immediate emergency response, professionally securing the accident scene to forestall further mishaps and ensure the seamless flow of vehicular movement within the axis.
“The driver of the ill-fated truck was swiftly apprehended by LASTMA personnel and subsequently handed over to security operatives from the Dolphin Estate and Ikoyi Police Divisions for further interrogation and necessary legal procedures,” Taofiq added.
The spooked person revealed that the remains of the deceased pedestrian were respectfully evacuated from the accident scene by Police officers and conveyed to a mortuary in Ebute Metta, pending formal identification by the victim’s family.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep sorrow and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, describing the incident as both tragic and entirely preventable.
He emphasized that the unfortunate accident underscores the imperative of routine vehicular inspection and maintenance, particularly for heavy-duty vehicles and articulated trucks operating within Lagos and beyond.
Bakare-Oki earnestly admonished all motorists especially truck drivers and fleet operators to conduct comprehensive mechanical evaluations of their vehicles, with particular emphasis on the braking system, before embarking on any journey, whether within or outside the State.
He further lamented that mechanical negligence and poor vehicle maintenance culture remain among the primary causes of avoidable road traffic fatalities across the metropolis.
While commending the swift and coordinated intervention of LASTMA operatives and security agencies, the General Manager reaffirmed the Authority’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and the sustenance of orderly traffic conduct throughout Lagos State.
Bakare-Oki assured members of the public that LASTMA, in continued partnership with relevant agencies, will persist in enforcing strict adherence to vehicle roadworthiness regulations and intensify public enlightenment campaigns targeted at commercial drivers, haulage operators, and transport unions to enhance safety consciousness.
LASTMA once again extends its deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased and implores all road users to exercise utmost caution, discipline, and vigilance while on the road affirming that road safety is a shared civic responsibility and that adherence to traffic regulations remains the surest path to preserving lives and property.
