The general manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Bolaji Oreagba, has confirmed the death of LASTMA official Jamiu Issa.

Mr Issa was knocked down and run over by a motorist driving against the flow of traffic in the Lekki area of Lagos while trying to evade arrest.

Mr Oreagba, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos, said the errant driver drove a green Toyota Sienna vehicle with registration number FST 901 AR.

Mr Issa had accosted the driver who drove against the flow of traffic, facing oncoming vehicles from the Chevron area towards the Conservation Toll Plaza.

“It was reported that Issa, the LASTMA patrol team leader in Ajah … was knocked down and ran over by the traffic law offender, who had pretended to be alighting from the vehicle,” said the LASTMA statement. “The driver changed his action and tried to escape by reversing the vehicle, knocking down Issa with the opened door while the front tyre ran over the officer.”

The action fatally injured Mr Issa.

Mr Issa was rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

“Issa’s colleagues at the scene of the event quickly put a call through to the zonal head while some Good Samaritans and eyewitnesses pursued the escaping Sienna driver to the Chevron Waterfront area, where he was eventually apprehended and taken first to Ilasan Police Station,” added the statement.

The driver was eventually taken to Ajiwe Police Station, under which jurisdiction the event happened, for proper investigation.

“According to other eyewitnesses’ accounts, the driver also knocked down another person while he was trying to escape from the scene,” Mr Oreagba said.

(NAN)