By Our Reporter
A cyclist died on Monday after being knocked down by a DAF articulated truck beneath the LASUTH Bridge at the traffic light corridor inward Airport Road, Ikeja.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said the accident occurred as both the cyclist and the truck approached the roundabout from the Maryland axis and attempted to navigate it simultaneously.
According to LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, the cyclist failed to maintain a safe distance from the moving truck and was crushed in the process, dying instantly.
LASTMA officials at the scene responded promptly to the incident. The truck driver, who reportedly attempted to flee, was apprehended and handed over to officers of the Ikeja Police Division for investigation and possible prosecution.
Officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SHEMU) were later invited to evacuate the remains of the deceased to restore traffic flow.
Reacting, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, expressed sadness over the incident and extended condolences to the victim’s family. He urged cyclists and commercial motorcyclists to exercise caution and strictly obey traffic regulations.
Giwa warned against the use of expressways and major highways by cyclists and other non-motorised road users, stressing that the state government would continue public sensitisation and strict traffic enforcement to prevent avoidable accidents.