LASTMA arrested the driver of a tanker after claims of a fatal hit and run costing the life of the motorist in Lagos

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has arrested the driver of a tanker allegedly involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of a commercial delivery driver in the Lagos, Maryland area.

The incident occurred along Jalan Kodesho, opposite Mrs Petrol Station, in the direction of Awolowo Way/Oba Akran, where the victim was reportedly hit by a fully laden tanker carrying a 33 liter container of groundnut oil.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA said the tanker, with registration number T-19089LA, collided with the motorcyclist and killed him instantly.

According to the agency, the vehicle “violently struck and crushed the delivery driver, resulting in instant death.”

Instead of stopping after the collision, the driver allegedly attempted to flee the scene.

“In a despicable attempt to evade justice, the tanker driver reportedly fled the accident site without providing assistance to the victims or informing the relevant authorities,” the statement said.

LASTMA revealed that its personnel immediately took action after receiving information about the incident and managed to track down the fleeing suspect before he could escape.

“Upon receiving a distress alert, alert LASTMA Officers immediately gave chase, successfully intercepting the fleeing vehicle and apprehending the driver before he could escape.”

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The agency said both the driver and the tanker have been handed over to the State Traffic Department (STD) of the Nigeria Police, Area F Command, Ikeja, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

LASTMA officers also cordoned off the crash site, directed traffic and coordinated emergency response efforts to minimize disruption to vehicle movements while recovery operations were carried out.

According to the statement, fellow riders who witnessed the tragedy contacted the family of the deceased to inform them about the incident while mourning the loss of their colleague.

Reacting to the development, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the fatal accident as “heartbreaking and avoidable.”

He asked operators of tankers and other heavy vehicles to be more careful and professional when using public roads.

The statement noted that “He reaffirmed the Agency’s unwavering commitment to highway safety and vigorously urged operators of articulated vehicles, tankers, and other heavy-duty trucks to exercise the highest level of professionalism, vigilance, and compliance with all traffic regulations.”

Bakare-Oki also warned motorists against reckless behavior on the roads, and stressed that drivers who flee the scene of an accident will face the full legal consequences.

He said “reckless driving, excessive speed and the crime of fleeing from the scene of an accident are serious offenses that endanger the lives of innocent people and are subject to legal sanctions.”

The LASTMA boss reiterated the agency’s commitment to working with the Nigerian Police and other emergency responders to enhance road safety, ensure rapid response to accidents and maintain the free flow of traffic across Lagos State.