Lagos arrests ambulance driver for driving against traffic, injuring motorcyclist

LASTMA boss, Bakare-Oki. Photo: File

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The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has arrested a yet-to-be-identified ambulance driver who left a delivery motorcyclist with a limb fracture, during a traffic incident on the Odo Iya-Alaro Bridge inward Maryland along Ikorodu Road, Lagos.

This was disclosed in a Monday statement by Lagos State Traffic Management Agency spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq.

According to Taofiq, the accident was caused by lingering traffic disruptions from an earlier truck fire at the same location.

“Preliminary security investigations at the scene revealed that the unfortunate occurrence was catalyzed by the residual disruptions following a truck inferno earlier in the morning at the same location.

“The aftermath of the fire incident had engendered a severe slow traffic impasse along the entire Ikorodu Road axis,” the statement partly read.

The agency reported that the private ambulance involved was transporting a pregnant woman dependent on oxygen support when the accident occurred.

“Amid the protracted slow vehicular movements, a private ambulance (BED 508 EA) conveying a pregnant woman dependent on oxygen support recklessly elected to traverse against traffic (one-way) at an imprudent and perilous speed.

“This dangerous manoeuvre culminated in a forceful collision with a delivery motorcyclist legitimately navigating his designated lane, instantly inflicting a grave and excruciating fracture to his right knee,” the statement added.

Taofiq stated that emergency response teams acted swiftly to assist the victims.

“The pregnant woman, along with her life-support apparatus, was safely transloaded into one LASAMBUS ambulance, while the second conveyed the severely injured motorcyclist to the nearest medical facility for immediate treatment,” LASTMA confirmed.

It was stated that the driver of the private ambulance was apprehended at the scene and handed over to law enforcement for further investigation.

“The driver of the private ambulance was apprehended on-site by LASTMA Officials and subsequently handed over to operatives of the Ogudu Police Division for comprehensive interrogation and potential prosecution in accordance with extant laws,” the statement said.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, also reaffirmed the agency’s stance on traffic safety.

“LASTMA has an uncompromising zero-tolerance posture towards the dangerous and unlawful act of driving against traffic,” he said.

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