A police officer and a scavenger were on Wednesday crushed to death by a speeding motorist at Ilubirin, inward Simpson, in the Lagos Island area of Lagos State.
According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the driver of a Toyota Camry (registration number MUS 885 JA) was travelling at an excessive speed when he lost control, veered off his lane, and rammed into the victims. The police officer was reportedly on a motorcycle at the time of the crash.
Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at LASTMA, said the force of the impact led to the “immediate and irreversible loss of life” of both men.
LASTMA officials stationed in the area quickly secured the scene to prevent further incidents. The driver, who allegedly attempted to flee, was apprehended and handed over to officers at the Adeniji Adele Police Division for investigation and prosecution.
The damaged vehicle was subsequently evacuated by LASTMA personnel to restore free traffic flow in the corridor.
General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, later visited the scene and expressed condolences to the families and colleagues of the deceased. He described the incident as a heartbreaking and avoidable tragedy caused by reckless driving.
Bakare-Oki warned motorists to adhere strictly to speed limits and road safety regulations, stressing that speed violations remain a major cause of fatal road crashes.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ongoing public enlightenment campaigns aimed at reducing road traffic fatalities across the state.