By Rashidat Olushola Okunlade
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed a serious road traffic accident involving a suspected drunk driver at Ebute-Ero inward NEPA, Apongbon, in the early hours of today.
Preliminary reports indicate that a male motorist, believed to be heavily intoxicated, was driving a Honda Jeep with registration number FKJ 562 JF at an excessive and uncontrollable speed when he rammed into the rear of a moving Scania truck while descending the bridge.
The force of the collision left the driver critically trapped in the mangled vehicle, creating a life-threatening emergency.
LASTMA rescue operatives swiftly responded to the distress call and, in a display of professionalism and operational efficiency, carried out a delicate emergency extraction of the trapped driver. He was subsequently handed over to security operatives and rushed to a nearby medical facility for urgent medical attention.
To prevent secondary accidents and ensure the safety of other road users, LASTMA officers immediately secured and cordoned off the scene, effectively managing traffic flow and restoring order along the busy corridor.
Personnel from the Ebute-Ero Police Division provided critical security support during the rescue, traffic control and recovery operations, ensuring a coordinated and incident-free intervention.
Following the successful rescue, LASTMA’s recovery team promptly evacuated the accidented vehicles from the roadway. Both vehicles were later handed over to security authorities for detailed investigation and further legal processes.
Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, expressed deep concern over what he described as an entirely avoidable crash, while extending his goodwill and prayers for the injured driver’s speedy recovery.
Hon. Giwa, however, strongly condemned the reckless behaviour that led to the incident, reiterating the Lagos State Government’s sustained warnings against driving under the influence of alcohol.
He stressed that drinking and driving remains one of the deadliest forms of road indiscipline, noting that such irresponsible conduct endangers not only the driver but also innocent road users, with potentially fatal consequences.
The Special Adviser reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to intensifying traffic law enforcement and sustaining policies that prioritise the protection of lives and property across the state.
LASTMA once again urges all motorists to strictly comply with traffic regulations, exercise restraint and responsibility behind the wheel, and completely abstain from alcohol consumption before driving, warning that drinking and driving kills.
