Society Editor
By Tolu Adesuwa Igiehon
Tragedy struck Lagos Island on Wednesday as a fatal road accident at Ilubirin inward Simpson claimed the lives of a police officer and a scavenger.
Olalekan Bakare-Oki, General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), confirmed the incident in a statement, describing it as a heartbreaking loss.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the driver of a Toyota Camry (MUS 885 JA), while speeding, lost control of his vehicle, veering out of his lane and colliding violently with a scavenger and a police officer riding a motorcycle,” Bakare-Oki said. “The impact resulted in their immediate deaths.”
LASTMA personnel stationed near the Ilubirin axis responded swiftly, securing the accident site to prevent further mishaps. Officers apprehended the driver, who attempted to flee, and handed him over to the Adeniji Adele Police Division for investigation and prosecution.
“The vehicle was promptly removed from the scene by LASTMA operatives to avert secondary accidents and restore normal traffic flow along the corridor,” Bakare-Oki added.
Visiting the crash site, the LASTMA manager expressed deep condolences to the families, colleagues, and communities affected by the tragedy. He described the incident as a painful reminder of the deadly consequences of reckless driving.
Bakare-Oki called on all motorists to adhere to government-approved speed limits and uphold the highest standards of road discipline. He emphasized that speed violations remain one of the leading causes of preventable road deaths.
He also reiterated LASTMA’s commitment to ongoing public education on road safety, urging drivers and all road users to adopt safer habits to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
