A dispatch rider was crushed to death by a moving train on Thursday at the PWD Railway Level Crossing in Ikeja, Lagos, prompting renewed calls for caution by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
The tragic incident occurred when the rider, identified only by the motorcycle registration number AGL 179 QR, attempted to cross the tracks despite warning signals of an approaching train.
According to eyewitnesses, the rider was speeding and ignored the safety barriers and signals. “He was riding very fast and ignored the signals warning of the approaching train,” a witness said.
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The train, unable to stop in time, struck the rider near the route leading to Ikeja GRA, resulting in his immediate death. The train continued on its route after the collision.
LASTMA officials arrived swiftly to manage traffic and secure the scene. They were later joined by officers from the Shogunle Police Division and personnel from the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), who evacuated the body.
In a statement, LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the victim’s family and described the incident as a painful reminder of the dangers of impatience at railway crossings.
“This is a distressing reminder of the dire consequences of impatience and disregard for traffic safety rules, particularly at railway level crossings,” he said.
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Bakare-Oki urged all road users, especially dispatch riders and motorists, to obey traffic signals and exercise heightened caution at railway intersections. He also reaffirmed LASTMA’s commitment to public education and enforcement.
“We remain committed to public enlightenment, proactive enforcement, and safety advocacy in our mission to ensure sanity and discipline across the Lagos metropolis,” he added.
