The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has expressed profound grief over a tragic road traffic accident which occurred at Ilupeju Bypass involving a commercial dispatch rider and a heavily loaded articulated containerized trailer, leading to the unfortunate loss of the rider’s life.
Preliminary security investigations disclosed that the tragic incident ensued after the dispatch rider reportedly engaged in a dangerous struggle for right of way with a commercial mini bus, popularly known as “Korope,” before losing control of the motorcycle and crashing into a moving articulated trailer along the ever-busy Ilupeju corridor. The severe impact of the collision resulted in fatal injuries, culminating in the instantaneous death of the rider at the scene.
Operatives of LASTMA monitoring vehicular activities around the Mushin axis, upon receiving distress notifications concerning the incident, swiftly mobilized to the scene and immediately embarked on rescue and traffic control operations.
The personnel successfully recovered the remains of the deceased trapped beneath the trailer before commencing extensive traffic management measures aimed at alleviating the heavy congestion generated by the occurrence and restoring normal vehicular movement within the axis.
Consequent upon the gravity of the accident and the obstruction occasioned by the spilled commodity, officials of the State Environmental Health Management Unit (SEHMU) were promptly contacted and responded expeditiously to evacuate the corpse of the deceased rider from the scene.
LASTMA officials worked tirelessly in synergy with other emergency response agencies to contain the resultant traffic backlog while simultaneously ensuring public safety, security and orderliness throughout the duration of the rescue and evacuation exercise.
Meanwhile, the wreckage of the dispatch motorcycle alongside the articulated trailer involved in the accident was subsequently handed over to officers of the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and possible prosecution in accordance with extant traffic and criminal laws.
Security operatives from the Ilupeju Police Division provided adequate security reinforcement throughout the rescue and recovery operations.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki while sympathizing with the bereaved family over the painful and irreparable loss, admonished all categories of road users, particularly operators of articulated vehicles and commercial dispatch riders to exercise maximum caution, professionalism and restraint unnecessary struggles for right of way capable of precipitating avoidable tragedies.
According to the General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, “The essence of the recently concluded stakeholders’ engagement with courier and dispatch riders was fundamentally to sensitize and further educate operators on the imperative of safety consciousness, strict compliance with government prescribed speed limits and adherence to extant traffic regulations in order to avert needless loss of lives on our roads.”
Adebayo Taofiq
Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department
