Delivery rider killed in fatal hit-and-run as LASTMA arrests fleeing tanker driver

Michael Olumide Alabi

Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has apprehended a tanker driver who allegedly fled the scene after fatally knocking down a commercial delivery motorcycle rider along Kodesho Road, opposite Mrs Filling Station, inward Awolowo Way/Oba Akran, on the Maryland-Ikeja axis of Lagos State.

The tragic accident reportedly occurred when a fully loaded tanker with registration number T-19089LA, conveying 33-litre groundnut oil, violently collided with a commercial delivery motorcycle rider.

According to the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the impact of the collision was said to have been fatal, with the delivery rider sustaining severe injuries that resulted in his instantaneous death.

According to LASTMA, the tanker driver allegedly attempted to evade responsibility by speeding away from the scene immediately after the crash, without rendering assistance to the victim or notifying the appropriate authorities.

However, the driver’s alleged attempt to escape was short-lived, following the prompt intervention of LASTMA personnel.

The Agency said its officers, upon receiving a distress alert about the incident, immediately mobilised and mounted a pursuit of the fleeing tanker. The driver was subsequently intercepted and apprehended before he could make good his escape.

Following his arrest, the tanker driver, alongside the vehicle involved in the incident, was handed over to the State Traffic Department (STD), Area ‘F’ Police Command, Ikeja, for further investigation and possible prosecution in accordance with the law.

LASTMA personnel also secured the accident scene and deployed traffic management measures to prevent further disruption to vehicular movement in the area.

The officers reportedly coordinated emergency response operations and ensured that the accident corridor remained accessible to relevant agencies involved in the recovery and investigation process.

Despite the fatal incident, vehicular movement along Kodesho Road was said to have remained largely uninterrupted during the recovery operation.

Fellow commercial delivery riders who gathered at the scene reportedly contacted the family of the deceased rider and expressed their grief over the loss of their colleague.

The riders also offered their condolences to the bereaved family as they mourned the tragic death of the delivery rider.
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, describing the incident as heartbreaking and avoidable.

Bakare-Oki reiterated LASTMA’s commitment to promoting road safety and reducing avoidable fatalities on Lagos roads.

He particularly appealed to operators of articulated vehicles, tankers and other heavy-duty trucks to exercise the highest level of professionalism, caution and vigilance while operating on the roads.

The LASTMA General Manager warned that reckless driving, excessive speed and fleeing the scene of a road crash are serious offences that could put the lives of other road users at risk and attract legal consequences.

He urged drivers of heavy-duty vehicles to comply strictly with traffic rules and regulations, stressing that every road user has a responsibility to protect lives and ensure safety on the roads.

Bakare-Oki further reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to strengthening its collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and other emergency response agencies to ensure prompt management of road crashes and other traffic-related incidents across Lagos State.

He said such collaboration remains critical to protecting lives, maintaining public safety and ensuring the smooth flow of traffic across the state.

The incident has once again highlighted concerns over road safety, particularly the dangers posed by heavy-duty vehicles and the need for drivers to exercise greater caution when navigating densely populated areas.

LASTMA urged motorists and other road users to remain vigilant and immediately report road crashes, traffic emergencies and other incidents requiring urgent intervention.

Members of the public can contact LASTMA through its toll-free emergency hotline, 3367, for prompt assistance and intervention.