Driver arrested for injuring LASTMA officer
A yet-to-be-identified truck driver has been arrested by police operatives in Lagos for causing grievous body injuries to an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority which led to the amputation of the officer in the Ojodu Berger area of the state.
According to the LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, the incident happened on Tuesday.
Taofiq stressed that the officer was on his way to official duty when the trailer, registered in Bauchi State, lost control while speeding along the Ogba corridor, and collided with the officer.
The impact was said to have caused a serious fracture to the officer’s right leg and hand, ultimately leading to an emergency amputation at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
He said, “The tragic incident transpired while the LASTMA officer was en route to commence his afternoon duty, underscoring the perilous consequences of careless driving on public roads.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the ill-fated trailer, bearing Bauchi State registration number KTG 33 ZZ, originated from Agidingbi by Oba Ogunji Road en route to Omole Junction in the Ogba corridor when the driver, operating at an alarmingly high velocity, lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a catastrophic collision.
“The sheer impact of the crash inflicted severe trauma on the LASTMA officer, leading to a grievous fracture of his right leg and hand. Upon emergency medical assessment at the Surgical Emergency Centre of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, attending specialists determined that the extent of the injuries necessitated an immediate amputation of his right leg.”
The statement added that the trailer driver fled the scene but was swiftly apprehended by security operatives from Ojodu Police Station, working in coordination with the LASTMA officials.
“In a brazen attempt to evade justice, the culpable trailer driver absconded from the scene. However, through the concerted efforts of security operatives from Ojodu Police Station, in collaboration with vigilant LASTMA officials, he was swiftly apprehended.”
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who visited the hospitalised officer, condemned the incident.
He emphasised that such a calamity could have been averted had the driver exercised due diligence and adhered to fundamental road safety protocols.
“He admonished trailer and truck operators, alongside all motorists, to uphold a heightened sense of safety consciousness, stressing the inestimable value of human life,” the statement added.
