Death and Chaos as Truck Driver Loses Control and Crushes Scavenger in Lagos
Lagos: A tragic accident claimed the life of a scavenger who was pushing a wheelbarrow on the busy Ikorodu Road in Lagos State on Saturday morning.
The scavenger, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, was hit by a speeding container truck that had a brake failure and veered off the road.
The truck driver, who was driving a 16-tyre DAF truck with number plate LSR 901 XV, was arrested by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) after the incident.
According to the Public Relations Officer of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the accident occurred around Mile 12 Market, where the scavenger was collecting scraps from the roadside.
He said that the truck driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the scavenger, crushing him to death.
He added that the victim was initially rescued alive by LASTMA officers, but later succumbed to his injuries.
The accident caused a commotion in the area, as some angry youths and hoodlums attacked the truck driver and attempted to lynch him.
However, he was saved by LASTMA officials and security personnel, who took him to Ketu Police Station for further investigation.
Taofiq appealed to the public to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
He also urged market leaders and traders to refrain from using wheelbarrows on the highways, as they pose a danger to themselves and other road users.
He said that the General Manager of LASTMA, Bakare-Oki Olalekan, had ordered a thorough probe into the accident and assured that justice would be done.
