The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), on Sunday, said a commercial motorcyclist lost his life after colliding with a fully loaded articulated truck transporting flour.

The general manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, in a statement, said the accident occurred along the Sabo Onimalu corridor, inward Itamaga, in the Ikorodu axis of Lagos State.

The statement was signed by Taofiq Adebayo, the agency’s spokesperson.

“Preliminary findings from an immediate on-site investigation suggest that the motorcyclist who was speeding suffered a sudden brake malfunction, rendering him incapable of regaining control,” Mr Bakare-Oki said.

He said that as a result, the motorcyclist forcefully rammed into the rear of the moving trailer, culminating in an instantaneous fatality.

Mr Bakare-Oki said LASTMA officials promptly arrived at the scene, and it was discovered that the truck driver had fled the location to evade responsibility but was apprehended by personnel.

“The arrested driver was immediately transferred to the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Sagamu Road Division, Ikorodu, for further investigation and potential prosecution under the relevant traffic and criminal statutes,” he said.

He noted that the mangled remains of the deceased motorcyclist were found trapped beneath the truck, adding that with clinical precision and due sensitivity, LASTMA officials extricated and evacuated the corpse.

“The body was, thereafter, handed over to members of his family who rushed to the accident scene after receiving phone calls from his other motorcyclists,” he said.

Mr Bakare-Oki conveyed his condolences to the family of the deceased and emphasised the importance of heightened vigilance on the part of road users.

He reiterated the Lagos State government’s policy on the restricted movement of commercial motorcycles along certain corridors, highways, and bridges, urging total compliance in the overriding interest of public safety and order.

“Road users are urged to imbibe a culture of caution, respect for traffic laws, and civic responsibility at all times,” Mr Bakare-Oki added.

(NAN)