Drunk driver crushes elderly woman to death in Lagos

Tragedy struck in the Oke Odo area of Alimosho, Lagos State, on Monday when an elderly woman was crushed to death by a driver suspected to be under the influence of alcohol.

The incident occurred along Almaroof Street, inward Pleasure, when the yet-to-be-identified woman was walking by the roadside.

Witnesses said the driver, who was reportedly drunk, lost control of his white Pathfinder Jeep with number plate JJJ 118 HX and rammed into her.

The impact killed the victim on the spot.

Eyewitnesses told officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority that the driver had been speeding recklessly before the crash.

He reportedly tried to flee but was caught by LASTMA officials who arrived swiftly at the scene.

Confirming the incident, the agency’s Director of Public Affairs, Taofiq Adebayo, described the crash as “a tragic and preventable occurrence” caused by “intoxicated and reckless driving.”

He said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the motorist, who was heavily under the influence of alcohol, was driving at a perilously high speed when he lost control following a brake failure.

“The vehicle veered off course and violently rammed into the woman who was walking by the roadside.”

Adebayo added that the driver was handed over to the Ile-Epo Police Division, while the deceased’s family was contacted through her mobile phone recovered at the scene.

Reacting, LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed concern over the rising cases of fatal crashes caused by drunk driving and unfit vehicles in the state.

He warned that such recklessness would no longer be tolerated.

“The sanctity of human life is inviolable. The continued slaughter of innocent citizens through sheer recklessness and moral irresponsibility is intolerable,” Bakare-Oki said.

He urged law enforcement agencies to ensure that the suspect faces prosecution in line with Lagos traffic and criminal laws.

By Deji Lambo