Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Lagos, Nigeria – A truck driver has been taken into custody after a fatal road accident on Monday claimed the life of a cyclist beneath the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Bridge along the Airport Road corridor in Ikeja. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident and said the driver was apprehended after attempting to leave the scene, with investigations now underway.
According to a statement released by LASTMA’s Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, the collision involved a DAF articulated truck and an unnamed cyclist. Both the heavy-duty truck and the cyclist were approaching the roundabout beneath the bridge from the Maryland axis when the crash occurred. Preliminary findings indicate that the cyclist was unable to maintain a safe distance from the truck, leading to a collision that resulted in fatal injuries on the spot.
The agency said its operatives, who were on duty controlling traffic at the location, responded promptly to the scene. The truck driver, who allegedly attempted to flee after the collision, was intercepted by LASTMA officials and handed over to officers of the Ikeja Police Division for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Authorities also invited the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SHEMU) to evacuate the deceased cyclist from the roadway to restore safe traffic flow on the busy route, which connects several key arterial roads in Lagos State.
In response to the tragedy, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and extended condolences to the family of the deceased. He used the incident to urge cyclists, commercial motorbike operators and other vulnerable road users to exercise heightened caution and adhere strictly to traffic regulations, particularly along high-risk corridors.
LASTMA reiterated its commitment to traffic safety enforcement, public sensitisation and proactive measures to protect all categories of road users. The agency emphasised that heavy-duty vehicles such as articulated trucks must be operated with strict adherence to safe distances and vehicle-handling best practices to reduce the risk of collisions, especially in densely trafficked urban areas.
Traffic safety analysts note that the tragedy highlights ongoing hazards faced by cyclists in Lagos, where shared road use with motorised vehicles often places them at heightened risk of serious injury or death. Advocates for road safety have called for improved infrastructure, dedicated cycling lanes and public education campaigns to reduce conflicts between cyclists and larger vehicles.
The Lagos State Police Division in Ikeja has confirmed that the driver remains in custody as part of a formal investigation. Charges could be filed depending on the outcome of the police inquiry, which will consider eyewitness testimony, traffic camera footage where available, and the initial findings of LASTMA’s response team.
Residents and commuters in the Ikeja area expressed shock at the development, describing the LASUTH Bridge corridor as a crucial transport link that sees heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic daily. Some have renewed calls for stronger measures to protect vulnerable road users, including more visible enforcement, better signage and cautionary infrastructure improvements.
As the inquiry continues, the case amplifies broader concerns about road safety across Lagos State and the need for integrated responses involving law enforcement, transport agencies and civil society to mitigate avoidable fatalities on the roads.
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