A commercial motorcyclist has been crushed to death by a truck loaded with flour along the Sabo, Onimalu–Itamaga road in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, was confirmed by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA.
The spokesperson for the agency, Taofiq Adebayo, in a statement, stated that the rider was reportedly speeding when he suffered a brake failure and rammed into the rear of the moving articulated truck, leading to his instant death.
According to him, LASTMA officials, who arrived at the scene as the first responders, took decisive action to manage the situation.
“The harrowing incident involved a commercial motorcyclist who, while reportedly navigating at an uncontrollably high velocity, tragically collided with a fully loaded articulated truck transporting flour. Preliminary findings from an immediate on-site investigation suggest that the motorcyclist suffered a sudden and catastrophic brake malfunction, rendering him incapable of regaining vehicular control.
“As a result, he forcefully rammed into the rear of the moving trailer, culminating in an instantaneous fatality. LASTMA officers, who arrived promptly as the first emergency responders, took swift and decisive action to manage the ensuing chaos and secure the accident scene,” the statement partly read.
He added that the driver of the truck fled the scene after the accident but was later apprehended after a brief chase.
The driver was, however, said to have been immediately handed over to police while the deceased’s body, which was trapped beneath the truck, was recovered and handed over to his relatives, who rushed to the scene of the incident.
LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, in the statement, expressed condolences to the victim’s family and stressed the need for commercial motorcyclists to carry out regular mechanical checks on their bikes, particularly the brakes.
He also urged the leadership of motorcycle unions across the state to intensify awareness campaigns on safety compliance and adherence to traffic rules.
“It is of utmost urgency that operators of commercial motorcycles assume greater responsibility by subjecting their bikes to routine mechanical checks, especially essential components such as brakes,” Bakare-Oki said.
He reiterated the state government’s policy restricting motorcycle operations on major highways and called for full compliance in the interest of public safety.
LASTMA also urged Lagosians to report traffic emergencies or infractions via its dedicated hotline: 0810000527862.
