The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has arrested a driver who rammed into a pedestrian and allegedly killed him in the Kosofe area of the state.
The driver, who was conveying pepper and some perishable items in a Toyota Hiace bus, was reportedly speeding when he lost control and rammed into two other vehicles and the pedestrian, killing the pedestrian and injuring one passenger.
The Director of Public Affairs of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.
Taofiq, who disclosed that the multiple crashes happened around 7am on Tuesday, noted that the driver was apprehended by LASTMA officials at the scene of the crash and handed over to police operatives in the Alapere division.
He said, “A commercial Toyota Hiase Bus (NSW 216 XA) fully loaded with pepper and other perishable items early this morning rammed into two other Volkswagen commercial buses and killed a pedestrian (male) at Ketu by Demurin Junction inward Kosofe, Lagos.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that an Inter-State Toyota Hiase commercial bus (NSW 216 XA) fully loaded with pepper and other perishable goods while on a high speed lost control as a result of a brake failure rammed into two commercial Volkswagen buses and killed a pedestrian waiting to board a bus at Ketu Bus Stop by Demurin Junction along Ikorodu Road, Lagos.”
He disclosed further that the injured person was handed over to officials of the Lagos ambulance services.
“Another trapped female passenger inside one of the Volkswagen commercial buses was rescued by LASTMA personnel and immediately handed over to officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service.
“While the commercial bus driver was immediately apprehended by LASTMA personnel, Police officers from Alapere Police Station provided security backup during the rescue operations,” the LASTMA spokesperson disclosed.
Meanwhile, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, was said to have appealed to pedestrians to always use government-designated bus stops when boarding commercial buses.
He also warned drivers to ensure a routine check of their vehicles before embarking on any journey.
“The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, while appealing to pedestrians to always stay at government-designated bus stops to board commercial buses, however, warned both commercial and private drivers to stop over-speeding and ensure their vehicles are properly checked, including the braking system, before embarking on any journey within or outside Lagos,” Taofiq disclosed.
PUNCH Metro reported on March 20 that no fewer than three persons were injured when a speeding truck rammed into three vehicles in the Anthony area of Lagos State.
Our correspondent gathered that the accident occurred when a truck rammed into two Volkswagen buses and a Nissan car due to brake failure, causing damage to the vehicles and injuring some occupants.