The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has arrested a tanker driver who allegedly knocked down and killed a commercial dispatch rider before attempting to flee the scene in Maryland, Lagos. The suspect has been handed over to the State Traffic Department (STD), Area 'F' Police Command, Ikeja, for investigation and possible prosecution.
Fatal crash on Kodesho Road
The tragic accident occurred along Kodesho Road, opposite Mrs Filling Station, inward Awolowo Way/Oba Akran in the Maryland-Ikeja area. According to LASTMA, the tanker, loaded with 33-litre groundnut oil containers and bearing registration number T-19089LA, rammed into the dispatch rider, killing him instantly. The driver did not stop to help the victim but instead sped off in an attempt to evade justice.
LASTMA officials responded swiftly after receiving a distress call. They pursued the fleeing tanker, intercepted it, and apprehended the driver before he could escape. The agency confirmed that both the driver and the tanker have been handed over to the police for further investigation.
Reckless driving and fleeing condemned
In a statement, LASTMA described the driver's actions as reprehensible. “In a reprehensible attempt to evade justice, the tanker driver reportedly sped away from the accident scene without rendering assistance to the victim or notifying the relevant authorities,” the statement read. LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki condemned the incident, calling it preventable.
“Reckless driving, excessive speed and the criminal act of fleeing accident scenes constitute grave offences that endanger innocent lives and attract the full weight of the law,” Bakare-Oki said. He reiterated the agency’s commitment to road safety and appealed to operators of articulated vehicles, tankers, and other heavy-duty trucks to exercise the highest degree of professionalism, vigilance, and compliance with traffic regulations.
Emergency response and scene management
While the arrest was ongoing, LASTMA officials secured the accident scene, controlled traffic, and worked with emergency responders to ease the gridlock that typically follows fatal crashes on busy Lagos roads. Fellow dispatch riders who gathered at the scene contacted the deceased's family and mourned the loss of their colleague.
Bakare-Oki warned that drivers who drive recklessly or abandon accident scenes after causing crashes will face full prosecution under Lagos State traffic laws. He added that LASTMA will continue collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force and other emergency agencies to improve emergency response, save lives, and maintain traffic flow across Lagos.
Growing safety concerns for dispatch riders
The incident highlights growing concerns over the safety of dispatch riders in Lagos, where commercial motorcyclists often share congested roads with heavy-duty trucks and tankers, leading to frequent fatal crashes. LASTMA’s swift action in this case underscores its determination to enforce traffic laws and hold offenders accountable.
