A tragic incident occurred in Lagos on Monday when a truck fatally knocked down a cyclist in Ikeja, triggering a dramatic scene as the driver allegedly attempted to flee.
Witnesses said the incident happened Monday morning near the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). According to them, the truck, which was travelling at high speed and allegedly attempting to beat a traffic light, collided with the cyclist.
“The truck driver was speeding and did not slow down even when the traffic light turned yellow before hitting the cyclist,” an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), who asked not to be named, said.
“He tried to drive away, but some bystanders quickly flagged down the truck and prevented him from escaping.”
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The cyclist, whose identity had yet to be released, was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.
Confirming the incident, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, said the fatal crash occurred beneath the LASUTH Bridge at the traffic signal corridor inward Airport Road, Ikeja.
Giwa disclosed that the accident involved a DAF articulated truck and an unsuspecting cyclist.
According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the tragedy occurred as both the cyclist and the heavy-duty truck, advancing from the Maryland axis, attempted simultaneously to negotiate the roundabout beneath the bridge.
“In the course of the convergence under the bridge, the cyclist was reportedly unable to maintain a safe clearance from the moving truck. Within moments, the situation escalated disastrously, resulting in the cyclist being violently crushed and sustaining fatal injuries on the spot.
“LASTMA operatives who were on duty regulating vehicular movement responded swiftly. Their prompt action led to the immediate apprehension of the truck driver, who had attempted to abscond from the scene to evade responsibility.
“The suspect was subsequently handed over to security personnel from the Ikeja Police Division for thorough investigation and prosecution in line with extant laws.
“To prevent secondary accidents and restore traffic flow, officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SHEMU) were promptly mobilised to evacuate the remains of the deceased cyclist from the carriageway, ensuring public safety and order at the scene,” he added.
The governor’s aide expressed deep sorrow over the incident and the irreplaceable loss of life, while extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
