A yet-to-be-identified driver has reportedly killed a tricyclist in a road accident that occurred along the Oko-Afo area of the Badagry Expressway, Lagos State.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, in a statement on Sunday, disclosed that the driver fled the accident scene upon realising the damage he had caused.
Taofiq noted that eyewitness accounts revealed that the fleeing driver, who was riding a Benz car with customised a number plate and driving in the wrong direction of the road, collided with a tricycle.
He added that the impact of the collision resulted in the death of the tricyclist.
Taofiq stated, “The grievous accident involved a commercial tricycle bearing registration number MUS 716 QM and a Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC Sports Utility Vehicle with the customised licence plate ‘OSUNFNKE.’
“Preliminary intelligence gathered from the scene indicates that the SUV operator was driving in contravention of established traffic protocols—willfully navigating against the legally designated flow of traffic, colloquially known as “One-Way”—from Ile-Epo towards Oko-Afo. This gross infraction culminated in a devastating head-on collision with the oncoming tricycle.
“The impact was fatal. 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 and moral negligence, the SUV driver fled the scene immediately, abandoning both his vehicle and the lifeless body of his victim.
“LASTMA operatives arrived swiftly at the location, demonstrating professionalism in securing the scene and escalating the matter to the Morogbo Division of the Nigeria Police Force.”
He added that the body of the deceased tricyclist was deposited at th Badagry General Hospital morgue while the carcasses of the damaged car and tricycle were towed by LASTMA operatives.
“Officers from the said division promptly took control of the area, while personnel from the Federal Road Safety Corps conveyed the deceased’s remains to the mortuary at the General Hospital in Badagry for formal processing.
“To restore normalcy and ease traffic gridlock, the extensively damaged tricycle and the SUV were towed from the roadway by LASTMA personnel and duly transferred to the custody of the Nigeria Police for further forensic investigation and possible criminal prosecution.”
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed displeasure to 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 added, “It is profoundly disheartening that, despite persistent enlightenment campaigns, extensive road safety sensitisation, and continuous enforcement initiatives, some individuals still choose to operate with reckless abandon and utter disregard for lawful conduct.
“This tragedy could have been averted if the erring driver had complied with directional signage and traffic regulations. We earnestly implore all motorists to conduct themselves responsibly, as every life lost on our roads is one too many.”
The LASTMA GM extended his condolences to the family of the victim while urging motorists to exercise caution whenever they are driving.
