In a recent incident on April 28th, operatives from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) took swift action by arresting the driver of a Mercedes-Benz GLK SUV. The driver had collided with a commercial bus in the Gbagada area of Lagos while using their phone. This negligence resulted in injuries to five individuals, including a 3-year-old girl who sustained a head injury and the bus driver who suffered fractures.
Following the crash, LASTMA acted promptly by transporting the seriously injured to Gbagada General Hospital for urgent medical attention. Additionally, they cleared the two vehicles involved from the expressway to facilitate uninterrupted traffic flow in the area, underscoring their commitment to public safety and efficient traffic management.
Preliminary investigations conducted by LASTMA revealed that the driver of the Benz SUV lost control of the vehicle due to phone usage, leading to the collision with a Volkswagen commercial bus parked on the roadside for battery repair. The driver was apprehended on the scene by LASTMA personnel and handed over to police officers from Alonge Police Station at Oworonsoki.
In response to this preventable accident, Hon. Sola Giwa, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, conveyed sympathies to the injured victims and emphasized the critical importance of safety on the roads. He specifically urged all motorists, particularly commercial bus drivers, to refrain from using phones while driving and to avoid over-speeding, whether traveling within or outside Lagos. This underscores the need for heightened awareness and adherence to traffic regulations to prevent such incidents in the future.
