A dispatch rider died after being struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker along the busy Apapa–Oshodi Expressway traffic corridor in Lagos State, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said in a statement.
The Lagos traffic agency reported that the truck driver fled the scene after the fatal collision and that authorities have impounded the vehicle as part of ongoing procedures.
The Apapa–Oshodi Expressway is one of Nigeria’s most trafficked urban corridors, serving as a vital link for commercial movement between the Lagos port areas and the mainland.
Road accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles and motorcycles are a persistent concern on this expressway and across other major Lagos routes, reflecting broader urban transport safety challenges in Nigeria’s largest city.
LASTMA, established to manage traffic flow and reduce road traffic accidents, has repeatedly called for improved driver compliance with safety regulations.
LASTMA General Manager Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki conveyed the agency’s findings in a statement signed by Mr. Taofiq Adebayo, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment.
The statement said the incident occurred under the Cele Bridge section of the expressway when the tanker marked RBC 38 XF struck the motorcycle.
“Security reports revealed that the tanker, while in motion, violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath and die instantly,” the statement said.
LASTMA personnel at the scene acted quickly to secure the crash site with cones and cautionary tape. This measure aimed to prevent secondary collisions and protect other commuters navigating the busy expressway.
Although the truck was impounded by LASTMA officials, the driver reportedly absconded after the crash, according to the agency.
Operatives from the Ijesha Police Division were called in to bolster security and took responsibility for further investigations.
The deceased rider’s body, the impounded tanker, and the damaged motorcycle were handed over to the police for detailed inquiry and prosecution.
“The remains of the deceased, after being professionally secured from underneath the tanker, were thereafter conveyed by the police to a morgue in Yaba,” the statement added.
LASTMA urged the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the root cause of the crash and ensure justice is served in accordance with the law.
The fatal crash highlights ongoing road safety risks for motorcyclists and commercial vehicle operators on Lagos’s busiest traffic corridors.
Urban riders such as dispatch riders play a critical role in the city’s informal economy, transporting goods and services across congested routes.
Fatalities involving heavy vehicles can disrupt economic activities and strain emergency response systems. Improved enforcement of traffic laws, regular vehicle maintenance checks, and targeted safety education remain essential to reducing such incidents.
