There was pandemonium in Lagos on Sunday as a container-laden truck fell on a cart pusher and killed him on the spot.
A statement by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), a copy of which made available to LEADERSHIP by director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment department of Agency, Adebayo Taofiq, said the cart pusher’s body was recovered under the fallen container at Goye by the United Bank of Africa (UBA), inward Dopemu area of Lagos.
Taofiq said a LASTMA official, Badmus Abdul-Akeem ‘Zebra’, Zone 32, Dopemu Akowonjo, who led the rescue team, disclosed that the fallen container was fully loaded with concrete stones.
He, however, disclosed further that preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the container lost full concentration while driving on top speed with another trailer before falling off the road blocking the entire BRT corridor inward Dopemu.
He confirmed that while the driver of the fallen truck ran away, LASTMA officials retrieved a photocopy of his driver’s licence at the accident scene.
Taofiq said, “after noticing a trapped body underneath a fallen container, we called the LASEMA Response Unit (LRU) and Police men from Gowon Divisional Police Headquarters for immediate rescue operations and investigations.
“While LASEMA Response Unit (LRU) evacuated the fallen container off the brt corridor, the recovered dead was handed over to members of the Hausa community around Dopemu area after they mobilized themselves to scene of the accident with dangerous weapons.
“However, the general manager of LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba while consoling with the family of deceased, urged truck drivers and other motoring public to always adhere strictly to safety standard while driving on highways across the State.
“He, however, maintained that speed limit road signs were erected to guide truck drivers and other motoring public on speed limitations across the State.”
