LASTMA nabs tanker driver over fatal hit-and-run in Ikeja
Tanker Driver Arrested Following Fatal Crash in Lagos
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has arrested a tanker driver believed to have fled the scene after fatally striking a commercial delivery motorcycle rider in the Maryland-Ikeja area of Lagos.
The incident occurred on Kodesho Road, near the MRS Filling Station, as the tanker, with the registration number T-19089LA and loaded with 33 liters of groundnut oil, collided with the rider, who died instantly.
According to LASTMA, the driver attempted to escape without rendering assistance or notifying authorities. However, following a distress call, LASTMA officers pursued and intercepted the tanker before the driver could evade capture.
The driver and the tanker have since been transferred to the State Traffic Department, Area ‘F’ Police Command in Ikeja for further investigation and potential prosecution.
LASTMA officers secured the accident scene and managed traffic to facilitate emergency response efforts, ensuring that vehicular movement along Kodesho Road remained unimpeded.
Witnesses, including fellow delivery riders, contacted the deceased’s family to offer condolences and express their sorrow over the loss.
In a statement, LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki extended condolences to the affected family, calling the incident tragic and preventable. He urged operators of heavy-duty vehicles, including tankers, to exercise caution, adhere to traffic regulations, and avoid reckless driving.
Bakare-Oki emphasized that fleeing from an accident scene poses significant risks to public safety and can lead to serious legal consequences. He reaffirmed LASTMA’s commitment to collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force and other emergency services to ensure prompt management of incidents and maintain traffic flow in the state.
The agency encouraged the public to report road accidents and traffic emergencies via LASTMA’s toll-free hotline for immediate assistance.
