Dare Babalola
Operatives of the newly inaugurated Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) 24-hour Night Operations Squad and police officers responded to a fatal crash in Surulere, Lagos, evacuating the body of a driver suspected to be under the influence of alcohol.
In a statement by Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA’s Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, the incident happened in the late hours of Saturday in Surulere.
He wrote, “Preliminary investigations revealed that the Navy Blue Toyota Camry, with registration number EKY 311 GK, was travelling at an excessively high velocity inward Iponri, when the driver lost control of the vehicle near the Alaka Under Bridge in Surulere. The vehicle somersaulted repeatedly, culminating in a fatal impact that claimed the driver’s life at the scene.
“Eyewitnesses and forensic evidence gathered at the site corroborated reports that the deceased was intoxicated, a condition that severely impaired his judgment and reaction time, leading to the catastrophic loss of control.
“Members of the LASTMA 24 hours Night Duty Patrol Team, who were actively monitoring vehicular movement within the Surulere corridor at midnight, arrived expeditiously at the crash site, secured and cordoned off the affected area to prevent secondary incidents, and immediately alerted officers from the Bode Thomas Police Division.
“The Police, upon arrival, conducted comprehensive documentation of the incident and subsequently released the remains of the deceased to his wife and family members, who were contacted through the deceased mobile device retrieved from the wreckage.”
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed profound sympathy to the bereaved family, describing the incident as “a tragic yet sobering reminder of the fatal consequences of intoxicated driving.”
He urged all motorists to remain vigilant, responsible, and safety-conscious, especially during the Ember Months, a period historically characterized by increased road traffic and elevated crash risks.
Bakare-Oki reaffirmed that combating drunk driving was a key resolution from the LASTMA Ember Months Stakeholders’ Forum, addressing a major threat to lives in Lagos and beyond.
He recalled that the forum’s theme, “Safe Roads, Safe Lives… LASTMA Cares,” was purposefully crafted to amplify LASTMA’s renewed commitment to the sanctity of life through enhanced enforcement, sustained public enlightenment, and strategic inter-agency collaboration.
The General Manager urged road users to avoid reckless behavior, exercise self-control, and follow traffic rules, noting LASTMA’s 24-hour operations focus on enforcement, emergency response, and saving lives on Lagos roads.
