Authorities have arrested a truck driver after a fatal crash claimed the life of a cyclist beneath the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Bridge in Ikeja.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident on Monday in a statement issued by its Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department and signed by Adebayo Taofiq.
LASTMA said the crash occurred at the traffic signal corridor along Airport Road, Ikeja, involving a DAF articulated truck and a cyclist.
Preliminary investigations showed that the cyclist and the truck, which was approaching from the Maryland axis, entered the roundabout beneath the bridge simultaneously.
During the manoeuvre, the cyclist reportedly failed to keep a safe distance from the truck, leading to a collision.
The impact proved fatal, as the truck crushed the cyclist, who died instantly from severe injuries, the statement said.
LASTMA officers on duty at the scene responded swiftly and intercepted the truck driver, who allegedly attempted to flee.
The authority said its officers promptly apprehended the driver and handed him over to personnel of the Ikeja Police Division for investigation and prosecution.
To restore traffic flow and prevent further incidents, officials from the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SHEMU) evacuated the deceased’s remains from the roadway.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, expressed deep sorrow and conveyed condolences to the victim’s family.
He prayed that God would grant the family strength, resilience and comfort to cope with their loss.
Giwa also warned cyclists and commercial motorbike riders to prioritise safety, urging them to avoid expressways and major arterial routes.
He noted that the Lagos State Government has sustained public awareness campaigns, including jingles and documentaries, to educate cyclists and other vulnerable road users on the need to use inner roads rather than high-risk corridors. He added that the directive also applies to skateboarders and other non-motorised users.
LASTMA reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to road safety enforcement and public enlightenment, urging all road users to obey traffic regulations to prevent avoidable tragedies.