A tragic road accident occurred along the Oko-Afo area of the Badagry Expressway, Lagos State, resulting in the death of a tricyclist. According to eyewitness accounts, the accident involved a Mercedes-Benz SUV with a customized license plate ‘OSUNFNKE’ and a commercial tricycle bearing registration number MUS 716 QM.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed that the SUV driver was riding in the wrong direction on the road when he collided with the oncoming tricycle. The impact was fatal, and the tricycle operator sustained multiple traumatic injuries, including a critical knee dislocation, and was confirmed dead at the scene.
In a shocking act of cowardice, the SUV driver fled the scene immediately after the accident, abandoning his vehicle and the lifeless body of the tricyclist. LASTMA operatives arrived swiftly at the location, securing the scene and escalating the matter to the Morogbo Division of the Nigeria Police Force.
The body of the deceased tricyclist was deposited at the Badagry General Hospital morgue, while the damaged car and tricycle were towed by LASTMA operatives. Officers from the Morogbo Division took control of the area, and personnel from the Federal Road Safety Corps conveyed the deceased’s remains to the mortuary for formal processing.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed displeasure at the fleeing driver’s action, describing it as “a blatant affront to public safety and an egregious violation of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.” He emphasized that the tragedy could have been averted if the erring driver had complied with directional signage and traffic regulations.
Bakare-Oki urged motorists to conduct themselves responsibly, emphasizing that every life lost on the roads is one too many. He extended his condolences to the family of the victim and implored motorists to exercise caution whenever they are driving.
The incident highlights the importance of adhering to traffic regulations and the need for drivers to exercise caution on the roads. LASTMA’s swift response and efforts to secure the scene and investigate the incident are commendable. The authorities’ commitment to enforcing traffic laws and ensuring public safety is crucial in preventing such tragedies.
