A commercial tricycle operator, yet to be identified, lost his life on Tuesday in a fatal crash atop Egbe Bridge in the Ikotun area of Lagos State.
According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) spokesperson, Taofiq Adebayo, the accident happened when a Toyota Venza with registration number GWA 659 RD made an attempt to overtake another vehicle on the bridge.
In the process, the Venza collided head-on with a tricycle bearing plate number EPE 245 QM, which was approaching from the opposite direction.
Adebayo said the collision killed the tricycle rider instantly, while two passengers—one male and one female—suffered multiple fractures and other severe injuries.
“Preliminary findings by security operatives indicate that the Toyota Venza, advancing from the Ejigbo area, in a perilously ill-judged attempt to overtake another vehicle atop the bridge, careened into the trajectory of an oncoming tricycle en route from Ikotun. The ensuing violent collision claimed the life of the tricycle operator instantaneously, whilst two passengers, one male and one female, sustained grievous bodily harm, including multiple fractures,” the statement partly read.
He explained that LASTMA officials quickly removed the injured passengers from the wreckage and handed them over to police officers from the Ikotun Division, who took them to the General Hospital, Isolo, for treatment.
The Venza driver reportedly fled after the crash, prompting a police manhunt for his arrest.
Adebayo also noted that LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commiserated with the deceased’s family and wished the injured victims a speedy recovery.
Reiterating the agency’s commitment to road safety, Bakare-Oki urged drivers to be vigilant and “ascertain that the roadway is unequivocally clear before attempting overtaking manoeuvres, particularly on elevated thoroughfares and bridge crests, where visibility and vehicular control are inherently diminished.”
He added that the tragic event underscores the dangers of recklessness and traffic violations.
“It is imperative that all road users cultivate discipline, foresight, and an uncompromising adherence to safety protocols to avert needless tragedies on our roads,” the statement added.
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