Story by Iyiola Ayomide
Tragedy struck on Monday along Meiran Road, inward Iyana Ekoro axis of Lagos, as a female operative of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) lost her life in a fatal road traffic incident involving a commercial bus, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed.
According to LASTMA, the incident occurred when a blue Ford commercial bus loaded with bottled and canned beverages, with registration number BDG 495 YH, was allegedly reversing unlawfully on the expressway. In the process, the vehicle rammed into the LAWMA sweeper who was carrying out routine roadside sanitation duties.
Preliminary findings revealed that the impact, which was said to have been severe, resulted in fatal head injuries, leading to the instant death of the sanitation worker.
LASTMA officials on routine traffic surveillance in the Meiran axis were said to have responded swiftly to a distress alert. On arrival, officers discovered that the driver had fled the scene in an attempt to evade responsibility.
Demonstrating prompt action, LASTMA officers pursued and successfully apprehended the fleeing driver, escorting both the suspect and the vehicle back to the scene. The intervention also prevented a potential breakdown of law and order, as angry residents had reportedly attempted to attack the suspect.
The driver and the commercial bus were subsequently handed over to officers of the Meiran Police Division for further investigation and prosecution in line with existing traffic and criminal laws.
The remains of the deceased LAWMA operative were evacuated from the scene by LAWMA officials using an official vehicle for onward procedures.
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the death as painful, avoidable and deeply distressing. He condemned the act of reversing on an expressway, noting that it constitutes a serious traffic violation under the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.
Bakare-Oki urged motorists to desist from reckless and unlawful driving behaviours that endanger lives, while reaffirming LASTMA’s commitment to traffic safety, enforcement and the protection of road users across the state.
He also commended LASTMA officers involved in the operation for their vigilance, professionalism and swift response, particularly in ensuring the arrest of the suspect and preventing an escape from justice.
The LASTMA boss extended condolences to the family, colleagues and loved ones of the deceased, praying for strength and comfort for them in the face of the irreparable loss.