A man driving a Highlander Jeep was killed yesterday after his vehicle, travelling at excessive speed, collided with a commercial bus that had stopped illegally to pick up passengers at Volkswagen, on the route towards Mile 2, Lagos.

The jeep, with registration number APP 150 EY, lost control and crashed into the painted T4 bus (KJA 328 XH), leaving the SUV driver dead at the scene and injuring several others. The bus was also severely damaged.

Personnel of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) responded swiftly to the incident. They removed the victim’s body from the wreckage and handed it over to officers of the Ojo Police Division, who later conveyed it to the C-Niger Mortuary in Abule Ado for preservation.

Traffic congestion in the area was subsequently cleared as LASTMA supervised the removal of the wrecked vehicles, which were later towed to the Ojo Police Division for further investigation.

General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commiserated with the bereaved family while condemning the recurring problem of reckless driving and unauthorised roadside passenger pickups.

Bakare-Oki urged commercial bus operators to restrict passenger pick-ups to designated bus stops provided by the government, stressing that unauthorised stops compromise safety and order.

He further cautioned motorists against speeding and emphasised the need to ensure that vehicles, particularly their braking systems, are in good condition before embarking on journeys within or outside Lagos State.

“The value of human life should never be jeopardised by recklessness on our roads. The Lagos State government, through LASTMA, will continue to enforce regulations and raise awareness to prevent tragedies like this from happening again,” he said.