One person has died following a lone accident involving a commercial Volkswagen bus along the Ojuelegba axis of Surulere, Lagos.
The accident occurred at Ogunlana Junction, inward Ojuelegba, by the Fallout area of Surulere, when the bus, with registration number LND 130 XR, reportedly careered into a median pole.
LASTMA, in a statement by its spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq, said the driver was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and had been driving recklessly shortly before the crash.
Other motorists approaching from behind reportedly had to exercise caution to avoid colliding with the erratically driven bus.
LASTMA said a male passenger, apparently attempting to escape from the moving vehicle, jumped out and sustained serious injuries.
The passenger later died from those injuries.
LASTMA personnel conducting traffic surveillance in the area quickly mobilised to the scene after spotting the crash.
The officers secured the scene, managed traffic and removed the damaged vehicle and the remains of the deceased from the carriageway to prevent a secondary collision.
Security personnel from the Area C Police Division, Ojuelegba, provided security cover at the scene, while officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEHMU) evacuated the remains of the deceased.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the incident as a reminder of the dangers associated with driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and the use of mechanically defective vehicles.
Bakare-Oki urged commercial and private motorists to carry out proper mechanical checks on their vehicles before embarking on journeys.
He specifically advised motorists to pay attention to braking systems, tyres, steering mechanisms and other critical safety components.
The LASTMA boss commiserated with the family of the deceased and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to prompt response to road crashes, traffic management and quick clearance of accident scenes.
He urged motorists and other road users to report accidents, vehicle breakdowns, traffic incidents and obstructions through LASTMA’s toll-free short code, 3367.