A tragic accident occurred along the Oko-Afo stretch of the Badagry Expressway in Lagos State, where a tricycle operator lost his life after being hit by a Mercedes-Benz SUV. The driver of the vehicle, who remains unidentified, reportedly fled the scene following the incident.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, the driver abandoned both the vehicle and the deceased after realising the gravity of the situation.
Taofiq explained that eyewitnesses reported the driver was operating a Benz SUV with a customised number plate and was driving against traffic when the collision happened.
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 also mentioned that the deceased’s body was taken to the Badagry General Hospital mortuary, while the two vehicles involved were removed from the road by LASTMA officers.
“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.”
In his reaction, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condemned the fleeing driver’s actions, labelling them “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.”
Bakare-Oki also expressed his sympathy to the bereaved family and urged all road users to remain cautious while driving.
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