A tragic road accident at Ilubirin inward Simpson on Lagos Island has left a police officer and a scavenger dead, prompting fresh calls for safer driving in the state.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Olalekan Bakare Oki, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday.
He said the crash was caused by the driver of a Toyota Camry with registration MUS 885 JA who was speeding before losing control.
“Preliminary security investigations revealed that the driver, while speeding, lost control and veered out of his lane, forcefully striking both a scavenger and a police officer who was riding a motorcycle. The impact resulted in their immediate and irreversible loss of life,” he said.
Bakare Oki explained that LASTMA officers on duty quickly moved in to secure the area and prevent further accidents.
He added that the driver attempted to escape but was caught and handed over to officers of the Adeniji Adele Police Division for investigation and prosecution.
He said the affected vehicle was also evacuated by LASTMA personnel to clear the road and ease traffic flow around the corridor.
The LASTMA boss, who later visited the crash site, expressed sorrow over the deaths, describing the incident as a painful reminder of the dangers of reckless driving. He sympathised with the families and colleagues of the victims.
He urged motorists to respect speed limits and maintain discipline while on the road.
According to him, “Speed violations remain one of the leading causes of avoidable road fatalities.”
Bakare Oki assured that LASTMA would continue to educate the public on safe driving and warned drivers to adopt responsible habits to prevent similar tragedies.
