The life of a commercial tricycle operator was lost on Tuesday with two others sustaining various degree of injuries following a tragic accident occurred on Egbe Bridge, inward Ikotun, Lagos.
The incident involved a Toyota Venza and a commercial tricycle, commonly known as “Marwa”.
Preliminary reports suggest that the Venza, which was reportedly speeding from the Ejigbo axis, attempted a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre atop the bridge. In the process, it collided head-on with the tricycle coming from the opposite direction.
The impact of the crash resulted in the instant death of the tricycle driver. Two passengers—a man and a woman—suffered multiple fractures and other serious injuries.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials swiftly responded to the scene, carrying out a careful rescue operation to extricate the injured victims from the wreckage.
Officers from the Ikotun Police Division later transported the survivors to the General Hospital in Isolo for urgent medical attention.
The spokesperson of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the incident, noting that the driver of the Toyota Venza fled the scene immediately after the accident.
Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspect, vowing to bring him to justice.
“Law enforcement authorities have commenced a concerted manhunt to apprehend the fugitive motorist and subject him to the full rigours of the law,” Adebayo said in a statement.
Reacting to the tragedy, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured victims.
He also issued a stern warning to motorists about the dangers of reckless driving, particularly on bridges and elevated roads where visibility is limited.
The LASTMA boss urged all road users to remain vigilant, exercise patience, and strictly adhere to traffic regulations to prevent future tragedies on Lagos roads.
“This heartrending incident serves as a grim testament to the lethal consequences of impatience and the blatant flouting of traffic laws,” Bakare-Oki said.
“It is imperative that all road users cultivate discipline, foresight, and an uncompromising adherence to safety protocols to avert needless tragedies on our roads.”