A fatal road accident claimed the life of a truck driver on New Year’s Day along the Lekki–Epe Expressway, Lagos, sparking renewed concerns over speeding and road safety.
The incident occurred at the Shangotedo axis, inward Eleko, when a fully loaded 40-foot containerised truck reportedly lost balance and overturned on the highway.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said the deceased was knocked down while attempting to place a “C” caution sign on the road to warn approaching motorists of the obstruction.
In a statement issued on Thursday, LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, described the incident as tragic and largely preventable.
Preliminary findings, according to the agency, indicated that the articulated truck had earlier capsized at the location, prompting the driver to take safety measures to avert further accidents.
“While the driver was responsibly trying to deploy a ‘C’ caution sign to alert oncoming vehicles, a speeding motorist rammed into him,” the statement said.
The offending driver reportedly fled the scene without stopping to render assistance, while the impact led to the instant death of the truck driver.
LASTMA said its night surveillance and rescue team swiftly secured the area to prevent secondary crashes and later evacuated the body from the road.
The remains were handed over to officers of the Elemoro Police Station, who took charge of the case.
The agency added that investigations had commenced to track and apprehend the fleeing motorist.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who visited the accident scene, condoled with the family of the deceased, describing the loss as painful and avoidable.
He urged motorists to shun excessive speeding, obey traffic regulations and respect warning signs, stressing that disregard for speed limits remains a leading cause of fatal accidents on Lagos roads.