By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
A tragic road accident beneath the LASUTH Bridge along the Airport Road corridor in Ikeja, Lagos, has claimed the life of a cyclist, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed.
The fatal incident involved a cyclist and a DAF articulated truck and occurred at the traffic signal point under the bridge.
According to the Public Affairs and Enlightenment Officer of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, preliminary findings revealed that both the cyclist and the heavy-duty truck were approaching the roundabout from the Maryland axis when the accident happened.
Taofiq explained that as both road users attempted to navigate the roundabout simultaneously, the cyclist failed to maintain a safe distance from the moving truck.
“In the course of this dangerous convergence, the cyclist was reportedly unable to keep a safe clearance from the articulated truck. Within moments, the situation escalated tragically, resulting in the cyclist being crushed and dying instantly,” he said.
LASTMA operatives on duty at the scene were said to have responded swiftly to the incident. Their prompt intervention led to the immediate arrest of the truck driver, who reportedly attempted to flee the scene to evade apprehension.
The suspect was subsequently handed over to officers of the Ikeja Police Division for further investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law.
To prevent secondary accidents and restore traffic flow, officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SHEMU) were also mobilised to evacuate the remains of the deceased cyclist from the road.
Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and extended his condolences to the bereaved family.
He prayed that God grants the family the strength and comfort needed to bear the painful loss.
Hon. Giwa also used the opportunity to caution cyclists and commercial motorcyclists to exercise greater care on Lagos roads, stressing the need to prioritise personal safety at all times.
He reiterated that cyclists must strictly obey traffic regulations and avoid plying expressways, highways and other major roads where the risk to their safety is significantly higher.
“The Lagos State Government has consistently carried out intensive sensitisation campaigns through public jingles and documentaries to educate cyclists and other vulnerable road users on the importance of using inner roads and staying away from high-risk corridors,” Giwa said.
He added that the directive equally applies to skateboard users and other non-motorised road users.
The Lagos State Government, through LASTMA, reaffirmed its commitment to strict road safety enforcement, sustained public awareness and the protection of all road users, while urging motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to adhere strictly to traffic laws to prevent avoidable tragedies.
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