A truck driver has been arrested following a tragic accident that claimed the life of a cyclist beneath the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Bridge in Ikeja.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday issued by its Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, signed by Adebayo Taofiq.
According to LASTMA, the collision occurred at the traffic signal corridor leading inward to Airport Road, Ikeja, involving a DAF articulated truck and a cyclist.
Preliminary findings indicate that both the truck and the cyclist, advancing from the Maryland axis, attempted to negotiate the roundabout beneath the bridge simultaneously.
The cyclist reportedly failed to maintain a safe distance from the truck, resulting in a collision.
“The situation escalated disastrously, with the cyclist being violently crushed and succumbing to fatal injuries on the spot,” the statement said.
LASTMA operatives on duty responded promptly and intercepted the truck driver, who allegedly attempted to flee the scene. “Their swift action led to the immediate apprehension of the driver, who was handed over to officers of the Ikeja Police Division for investigation and prosecution,” the agency added.
Officials from the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SHEMU) were called in to remove the deceased from the road, helping to prevent further accidents and ease traffic congestion.
Reacting to the incident, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, expressed deep sorrow over the loss and extended condolences to the victim’s family. “We pray that Almighty God grants the family the fortitude and resilience to endure this profound grief,” the statement noted.
Giwa also cautioned cyclists and commercial motorbike operators to prioritise safety, warning against riding on expressways and major arterial routes. “The Lagos State Government has consistently conducted sensitisation campaigns through public jingles and documentaries, urging cyclists and other vulnerable road users to confine their movements to inner roads, away from highways and high-risk corridors. This safety directive also applies to skateboard users and other non-motorised conveyances,” he said.
LASTMA reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to road safety, public enlightenment, and protection of all road users, urging motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians to obey traffic laws to prevent avoidable tragedies.
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