Mobolaji Michael
IN a harrowing and unfortunate incident, a deaf pedestrian today met a tragic and untimely demise while innocently awaiting a commercial bus at a designated stop along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, inward Maryland, adjacent to Temac Filling Station.
The fatal collision involved two Suzuki mini commercial buses (Korope) bearing registration numbers EPE 279 YJ and BDG 558 YG.
Preliminary inquiries, according to Adebayo Taofiq, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA indicate that one of the vehicles, owing to reckless over-speeding, veered out of control and violently rammed into a stationary minibus before mercilessly mowing down the unsuspecting pedestrian.
Demonstrating swift crisis intervention in alignment with the United Nations Response Time (UNRT), operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) promptly arrived at the scene, cordoning off the affected area and summoning law enforcement personnel from the Area F Police Division, who assumed custody of both vehicles for an exhaustive investigation.
Simultaneously, the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), responding to an emergency distress call from LASTMA officials, undertook the dignified evacuation of the deceased’s remains to the General Hospital, Ikeja.
Reacting to this grievous occurrence, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family while issuing a stern admonition to commercial transport operators regarding the imperative of adherence to statutory traffic regulations.
He underscored the indispensable necessity of meticulous vehicular maintenance, with particular emphasis on the integrity of braking mechanisms to forestall preventable catastrophes.
Furthermore, Hon. Giwa reiterated the Intelligence Transport System (ITS) speed limit sites at Alapere, Ogudu Road & Nitel, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way are to monitor speed violations and improve traffic management, emphasizing their pivotal role in curtailing excessive acceleration among both private and commercial motorists.
He exhorted all drivers to exercise unwavering compliance with stipulated speed thresholds to mitigate reckless endangerment of lives and property.
“Ensuring road safety is a collective responsibility. Indiscriminate speeding and flagrant disregard for traffic laws constitute an existential threat to public safety. I implore all motorists to strictly operate within legal parameters to avert needless loss of human lives,” he asserted.
Expressing profound sympathy, Hon. Giwa also invoked divine solace for the grieving family, praying for fortitude in this time of irreparable loss.
For any traffic infractions, emergencies, vehicle breakdowns, or accident reports, the public is urged to reach out to LASTMA via its toll-free hotline: 080000527862.
Eighteen-Eleven Media