A female pedestrian was, on Sunday, crushed to death when an over-speeding vehicle veered off the road to the pedestrian walkway at Mosalasi Roundabout in Ipaja, Lagos State.

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, in a statement, said the driver, who tried to flee the scene, was caught and handed over to the police.

Mr Taofiq said, “In a most harrowing and unfortunate incident, a lone vehicular crash involving a black Toyota Tundra bearing registration number FST 222 HV tragically claimed the life of an innocent female pedestrian earlier today at the Mosalasi Roundabout, situated along New Ipaja Road in the Ipaja axis of Lagos State.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the vehicle, travelling at an egregiously excessive speed, veered uncontrollably off the carriageway, mounted the pedestrian walkway, and fatally struck a woman who died instantly from the impact.”

According to the agency, the momentum of the vehicle propelled it into nearby private premises known to engage in the sale of livestock, thereby damaging the perimeter fence and an adjoining advertising billboard.

Quoting a witness at the scene, Mr Taofiq said the driver, “upon realising the gravity of the calamity he had caused, made a frantic attempt to flee the scene” but was apprehended due to the intervention by LASTMA officials.

Mr Taofiq said the driver had been handed to the police operatives from the Gowon Estate Command, and the “remains of the deceased woman were respectfully relinquished to officers of the Nigeria Police Force for requisite procedures.”

The LASTMA spokesperson said the suspect was undergoing investigation by the police.

Mr Taofiq noted that the LASTMA general manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sorrow over the loss of life and extended his condolences to the bereaved family.

The LASTMA boss urged motorists to always subject their vehicles to routine safety checks, especially the integrity of braking systems.

He added that adherence to traffic regulations is not merely a legal obligation but a moral imperative to safeguard lives and property on Lagos roads.