A traffic officer and two commercial motorcyclists were killed on Monday morning after a cement-laden truck lost control and rammed into them at the Badagry Roundabout in Lagos.
The fatal crash, which occurred at about 9:45 a.m., involved a truck that reportedly veered off course while approaching the busy junction, ploughing into the victims and causing panic in the area.
The deceased included an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) who was on duty at the time of the incident, and two commercial motorcyclists said to have been waiting to pick up passengers.
An official of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, who spoke at the scene, said the truck driver attempted to manoeuvre the vehicle to minimise casualties.
“The truck hit the LASTMA staff on official duty and two cyclists waiting to carry passengers,” the official said. “The driver tried to manoeuvre to reduce casualties; otherwise many more motorcyclists and vehicles would have been affected.”
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Confirming the incident, Mr. Yusuf Sanni, Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said the driver had been arrested and taken to the Badagry Police Station.
“The driver has been taken to Badagry Police Station,” Sanni said, attributing the crash to loss of control. He advised motorists to avoid the area while emergency responders cleared the wreckage.
Sanni added that the remains of the victims had been deposited at a hospital mortuary, while the truck was impounded at the police station.
Also confirming the development, CSP Folajimi Agosile, Divisional Police Officer of Badagry Police Station, said the driver would be prosecuted after investigations are concluded.
“He will be arraigned at the Chief Magistrates’ Court after investigations are concluded,” Agosile stated.
Officials of the FRSC, LASTMA, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Police Force were at the scene to manage traffic and restore normalcy after the incident.
