Drunk driver dies in Lagos auto crash, three injured

Three persons sustained varying degrees of injuries while a driver suspected to be drunk lost his life in a road crash along the Otedola Bridge axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday.

PUNCH Metro learnt in a statement by the spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, that the accident occurred when the driver, who was driving at top speed, lost control and crashed the vehicle.

The impact of the crash led to the death of the driver at the accident spot while three passengers sustained injuries.

Taofiq stated, “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has confirmed a grievous lone vehicular accident involving a Toyota Sienna (KTU 666 JP) at Conoil, inward Secretariat, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“This tragic occurrence, which transpired earlier today, resulted in the untimely demise of the driver, while three other occupants—two males and one female—suffered severe injuries.

“Preliminary inquiries indicate that the deceased driver was under the influence of alcohol and lost control of the vehicle while travelling at an excessive speed.”

He added that LASTMA operatives at the scene of the accident recovered a mobile phone, a sum of money and sachets of alcoholic drinks while adding that officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps took the deceased’s body to a morgue in the Yaba area of the state.

“During rescue operations, LASTMA officials who swiftly responded as the first responders recovered N48,200, a phone and 15 sachets of alcoholic gin inside the Sienna car.

“Additionally, the Federal Road Safety Corps officers, who were also present at the scene, undertook the evacuation of the deceased’s remains to a morgue in Yaba, while LASTMA operatives promptly towed the accident vehicle to the agency’s yard to avert any traffic disruptions,” Taofiq added.

Reacting to the incident, the LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, while sympathising with the deceased’s family urged drivers to shun alcohol consumption while driving.

“Expressing deep regret over the tragic incident, LASTMA General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, extended his profound condolences to the bereaved family and wished the injured victims a swift and full recovery.

“He further issued a stern admonition to motorists, urging them to eschew alcohol consumption while driving, emphasising that reckless and impaired driving remains a perilous menace to lives and property,” Taofiq stated.