A dispatch rider lost his life on Thursday after being crushed by a moving train along the PWD Railway Level, Ikeja, Lagos State.
It was gathered from a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, that the incident occurred in the early hours of the day.
According to Taofiq, the dispatch rider, who was riding a motorcycle with the number plate AGL 179 QR, was crushed while attempting to cross the railway line.
The impact of the collision with the train led to his death on the spot.
Taofiq stated, “Preliminary investigations conducted by security personnel at the scene revealed that the dispatch rider, reportedly travelling at excessive speed, attempted to hastily manoeuvre across the railway track in a bid to access the GRA area of Ikeja.
“In the process, he collided with an oncoming train. The impact proved fatal, as the rider died instantly, while the train continued its movement along the track.”
He added that the body of the dispatch rider was handed over to health officers from the state emergency unit for onward action.
“As the first responders, LASTMA personnel promptly cordoned off the scene of the incident to prevent secondary mishaps and ensure the free flow of vehicular movement within the area, with support from security personnel from the Shogunle Police Division.
“The State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit was immediately contacted and arrived at the scene to evacuate the remains of the deceased for appropriate action.”
Reacting to the incident through Taofiq, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condoled with the family of the deceased while urging road users to always obey traffic rules, especially at railway crossings.
He emphasised the importance of strict compliance with all traffic signals and government-installed warning signs, not only across Lagos State but throughout the federation, to prevent avoidable road tragedies.
“The General Manager further reaffirmed LASTMA’s unwavering commitment to continuous public enlightenment, proactive enforcement, and safety advocacy in its mission to ensure sanity, discipline, and orderliness across the Lagos metropolis,” Taofiq stated.
Train-related accidents are recurrent in Lagos, raising concerns about safety measures for commuters around the rail tracks and railway crossings.
PUNCH Metro reported in September 2018 that a train crushed a police inspector and a motorcyclist at the same PWD bus stop after they attempted to beat the train.
Similarly, in August 2024, PUNCH Metro reported that an unidentified adult male was crushed to death by a moving train in the Mushin area of Lagos State.
The incident had occurred while the deceased was walking along the Cappa railway tracks.
Meanwhile, in 2023, the FRSC had called for the installation of functional level-crossing gates and signal systems to prevent such incidents.
Credit: punchng.com
