Hit-and-run crash leaves Lagos teenager hospitalised

A teenage boy has been hospitalised after he was hit by a vehicle while crossing the Onipanu Bus Rapid Transit corridor inward Fadeyi, Lagos State, on Wednesday.

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed in a statement.

Oke-Osanyintolu stated that the victim sustained head and leg injuries in the hit-and-run crash.

Oke-Osanyintolu noted that the incident occurred at about 4:30pm, while the emergency response team arrived at the scene two minutes later and found the injured teenager in need of urgent medical attention.

He stated that the agency’s Cobra Team provided immediate assistance and transported the victim to the Trauma Centre for further medical treatment.

He stated, “In the incident recorded at 4:30 pm along the Onipanu BRT corridor inward Fadeyi, the Cobra Team responded within two minutes, arriving at 4:32 pm to find a teenage boy who had been hit by a vehicle while crossing the expressway and was in urgent need of medical attention having sustained head and leg injuries in a hit-and-run.

“Upholding the people-centric governance philosophy of the administration, the team provided immediate assistance and ensured the swift transportation of the victim to the Trauma Center for definitive medical care.”

He urged motorists to avoid reckless driving and speeding and obey traffic regulations, while advising pedestrians to use pedestrian bridges and designated crossing points.

Earlier on Wednesday, he noted that the Cobra Team also responded to a separate crash involving a truck and a Toyota Camry opposite the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Onipanu, inward Fadeyi.

The crash, which occurred at about 5:10am, involved a HOWO truck with registration number T-36016LA and a black Toyota Camry marked FST-970KS.

According to him, preliminary investigation attributed the crash to reckless driving and speeding by the truck driver.

He noted that the team, working with policemen and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, diverted traffic to prevent secondary crashes while recovery operations were carried out.

He noted that the Camry was towed to the Onipanu Police Station with the agency’s light tow truck, while the truck was driven to the station.

The PS stated that no life was lost in the early morning crash and that the road was subsequently cleared and reopened to traffic.

Oke-Osanyintolu commended the Cobra Team, the police and LASTMA for their rapid response and collaboration in managing both incidents.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property while strengthening emergency response operations across the state.

PUNCH Metro reported on Thursday that a female police inspector, Mercy Bassey, died after she was reportedly knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while on route-lining duty ahead of the arrival of President Bola Tinubu in Lagos.

A security source who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that Bassey was hit by a black Highlander Sport Utility Vehicle while crossing the Third Mainland Bridge at the Adekunle Intersection, inward Lagos Island, when the incident occurred.