Driver Flees After Killing Lagos Commercial Tricyclist
Tragedy struck along the Badagry Expressway over the weekend as a reckless motorist driving against traffic caused a fatal collision with a commercial tricycle operator in the Origan, Oko-Afo area of Lagos State.
It was gathered that the incident occurred when the driver of a Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC SUV, bearing the customized license plate “OSUNFNKE”, was traveling one-way from Ile-Epo towards Oko-Afo, in blatant violation of traffic laws.
The SUV collided head-on with an oncoming tricycle.
The impact of the crash was devastating. The tricycle rider sustained multiple injuries, including a severely dislocated knee, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Shockingly, the SUV driver fled immediately after the collision, abandoning both his vehicle and the lifeless body of his victim.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, said LASTMA officials responded swiftly, securing the area and coordinating with officers from the Nigeria Police Force (Morogbo Division), who have since taken over the investigation.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) also attended to the scene and conveyed the deceased’s body to the mortuary at the General Hospital in Badagry.
Both the tricycle and the SUV were towed from the scene to restore traffic flow and are now in police custody pending further forensic analysis and possible criminal prosecution.
“Preliminary intelligence gathered from the scene indicates that the SUV operator was driving in contravention of established traffic protocols—willfully navigating against the legally designated flow of traffic, colloquially known as “One-Way”—from Ile-Epo towards Oko-Afo.
“This gross infraction culminated in a devastating head-on collision with the oncoming tricycle,” Adebayo said in a statement.
Speaking on the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condemned the driver’s actions as a blatant affront to public safety and a “gross violation” of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.
“This lamentable loss of life is an unfortunate testament to the deadly ramifications of impunity on our roads,” Bakare-Oki stated.
“It is profoundly disheartening that, despite persistent enlightenment campaigns, extensive road safety sensitization, and continuous enforcement initiatives, some individuals still choose to operate with reckless abandon and utter disregard for lawful conduct.”
He reaffirmed LASTMA’s commitment to proactive traffic management, public education, and strict enforcement, warning motorists against dangerous practices like one-way driving.
“This tragedy could have been averted if the erring driver had complied with directional signage and traffic regulations. We earnestly implore all motorists to conduct themselves responsibly, as every life lost on our roads is one too many,” he added.
Bakare-Oki extended his condolences to the family of the deceased, and prayed that God grant them the fortitude to endure the irreplaceable loss.
Driver Flees After Killing Lagos Commercial Tricyclist is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
