A tragic accident on the Third Mainland Bridge on Sunday claimed the life of a police officer after a reckless driver rammed into the officer’s motorcycle at the Adekunle inward Iyana Oworo axis of the bridge.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed that the fatal incident involved a Lexus vehicle with registration number EPE 765 JN and a Bajaj motorcycle being ridden by the deceased police officer.

According to LASTMA, the officer died instantly from injuries sustained in the crash, while the driver of the Lexus vehicle immediately turned himself in at the Adekunle Police Division following the incident.

Officials of LASTMA, alongside operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, swiftly responded to the distress call and moved to the scene to carry out traffic control, secure the area and commence preliminary incident management procedures.

To prevent secondary accidents and ensure the safety of commuters and other motorists, traffic safety cones and cautionary devices were strategically placed around the affected section of the bridge while police officers began documentation and investigation into the fatal crash.

Recovery and evacuation operations were also immediately coordinated to remove the affected vehicles and restore normal traffic movement along the corridor.

Despite the severity of the incident, vehicular movement around the axis was effectively managed due to the prompt intervention and operational efficiency of LASTMA officials deployed to the scene.

Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep sadness over the loss of the police officer and urged motorists to obey traffic regulations and avoid reckless driving.

He stressed the need for drivers to exercise caution, maintain speed limits and cultivate responsible driving habits in order to reduce the growing rate of avoidable road crashes and fatalities across Lagos State.