From John Silas, Lagos
A tragic lone accident in the early hours of Saturday claimed the life of a driver along the busy Oshodi-Apapa Expressway at Charity Bus Stop inward Iyana Isolo, Lagos.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), in collaboration with officers of the Nigeria Police Force, carried out a swift rescue and recovery operation following the fatal incident.
According to preliminary investigations, the Honda Pilot Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) involved in the crash suddenly lost control before overturning several times and eventually coming to a halt in a severely damaged state.
The impact of the accident reportedly led to the immediate death of the driver, whose body became trapped inside the mangled wreckage of the vehicle.
LASTMA officials, who were on routine traffic monitoring and management duties around the Iyana Isolo axis when the incident occurred, quickly mobilised to the scene.
Working closely with officers from the Mosafejo Police Division, the traffic officials successfully extricated the deceased from the wreckage while also ensuring free flow of traffic and preventing further accidents along the ever-busy corridor.
Following the successful recovery operation, officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) evacuated the remains of the deceased to a public mortuary in line with public health and statutory procedures.
The wrecked Honda Pilot SUV was thereafter handed over to officers of the Mosafejo Police Division for further investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the accident.
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep sorrow over the unfortunate loss of life and extended condolences to the bereaved family.
Bakare-Oki also urged motorists across Lagos State to drive responsibly, obey speed limits and strictly adhere to traffic regulations and road safety measures, especially during late-night and early-morning journeys.
According to him, reduced visibility, fatigue and impaired reaction time during such periods often contribute to avoidable road accidents.
“Motorists are strongly urged to eschew reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, excessive speeding and every form of traffic infraction capable of precipitating avoidable tragedies on our roads.
“The sanctity and preservation of human life must remain paramount in the conduct of every road user. No journey is so urgent as to justify compromising safety,” he said.
The LASTMA boss reiterated the agency’s commitment to rapid emergency response, traffic management and sustained public enlightenment aimed at reducing road accidents across Lagos State.
