A “reckless” driver arrested for violating traffic laws killed a pregnant woman, a ‘keke’ driver and injured two children in Okota, La Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has said.
In a statement on Tuesday, Adebayo Taofiq explained that the driver of a Sienna vehicle who was stopped for taking ‘one-way’ (driving against traffic) attempted to escape.
According to the statement, a traffic officer, Hassan Kehinde, who led the LASTMA patrol team, said the driver in his attempt to escape lost control and crashed into a “fully loaded” tricycle, killing the driver and the pregnant woman. injuring two children.
However, according to witnesses, one of the law enforcement officers was “dragging” the steering wheel of the alleged traffic offender when the car rammed into the pedestrians.
As a step
While the driver was detained, a police officer assigned to the LASTMA patrol offered to escort the stopped vehicle to the latter’s office for its corresponding registration.
“On the way, and in an attempt by the driver to escape, he swerved towards Bayo Oyewale Street at the Ago roundabout and collided with a fully loaded tricycle,” the statement read.
“While the tricycle driver died instantly, the pregnant woman later died in the hospital while the two injured schoolchildren are currently in the Intensive Care Unit “receiving medical attention.”
Taofiq said the police officer also suffered injuries of varying degrees in the accident.
The traffic agency said the incident “triggered protests when an angry mob pounced on the escorting police officer, but the timely intervention of a team of police officers from Ago/Okota/Ilasa police stations saved the policeman from being lynched.