A cement-laden truck rammed into a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officer and two commercial motorcyclists at the busy Badagry Roundabout in Lagos on Monday, killing them on the spot.
Chronicle NG gathered that the crash occurred at about 9 am on Monday.
An eyewitness who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the truck was approaching the junction at top speed when it suddenly lost control, swerved off its lane, and crushed the victims in the process.
“The LASTMA officer was controlling the traffic when he lost control and was suddenly crushed on the spot.
“The two motorcyclists were also affected while they were waiting to pick up passengers,” the eyewitness said.
A police source who also spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, as he was not permitted to address the press on the incident, said the incident resulted in gridlock in the area.
“Other LASTMA officials were mobilized to the scene of the incident due to their affected colleague. Our men were also on the ground, as well as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and the Federal Road Safety Corps, to manage the situation,” he added.
However, the officer confirmed that the driver was immediately arrested and taken into custody, adding that the truck was impounded for additional investigation and that the victims’ remains had been evacuated to a hospital mortuary.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported on Monday that Yusuf Sanni, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) unit commander, confirmed the incident and said the driver had been arrested.
“The driver has been taken to Badagry Police Station,” Sanni said, attributing the crash to a loss of control and urging motorists to avoid the area.
He added that the truck involved had been seized at the police station, and the remains of the victims had been placed in the hospital mortuary.
The driver’s incarceration for prosecution was also confirmed by CSP Folajimi Agosile, Divisional Police Officer of the Badagry Police Station.
“He will be arraigned at the Chief Magistrates’ Court once investigations are concluded,” Agosile said.
Adebayo Taofiq, the LASTMA spokesperson, was called and offered to provide an update; however, as of the filing of this article, he had not done so.
The tragedy happened only three days after a road accident at Ekoro Junction, within Abule-Egba, Lagos State, on Friday night claimed one life and four others were rescued, according to LASTMA.
