By Kehinde Aderemi
A commercial motorcyclist also known as Okada rider was killed yesterday at Sabo Onimalu corridor, inward Itamaga, Ikorodu, Lagos State, by a fully loaded articulated truck transporting flour.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident. The rider was reportedly navigating at an uncontrollably high speed when he collided with the truck.
It was gathered that the Okada rider suffered a sudden brake malfunction,lost control and rammed into the rear of the moving trailer, leading to his death.
LASTMA Officers, who arrived at the scene promptly took swift action to manage the ensuing chaos and secure the accident scene.
Meanwhile,the driver of the ill- fated truck,who had earlier fled the scene in a bid to evade responsibility,was apprehended by the LASTMA officers,and was transferred to Shagamu Road Police Division, Ikorodu, for further investigation and posible prosecution under the relevant traffic and criminal statutes.
The remains of the Okada rider was later evacuated and handed over to members of his family,who rushed to the accident scene after receiving phone calls from his other motorcyclists.
Expressing his condolences to the family of the deceased,General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, in a statement restated the Lagos State Government’s policy on the restricted movement of commercial motorcycles along some corridors, highways and bridges, urging total conformity in the overriding interest of public safety and order.
The LASTMA boss, appealed to the leadership of commercial motorcycle operators’ unions across the state, urging them to intensify sensitization campaigns among their members, emphasizing the imperatives of vehicular integrity, adherence to safety protocols, and unwavering compliance with traffic regulations.
“It is of utmost urgency that operators of commercial motorcycles assume greater responsibility by subjecting their bikes to routine mechanical checks especially essential components such as brakes. The loss of life resulting from such preventable mechanical failures is both regrettable and unacceptable,” Mr. Bakare-Oki stated.