One dead, three injured in separate road accidents in Ibadan

...OYRTMA boss slams lawless tricycle riders, vows clampdown on traffic violations

Tragedy struck in Ibadan, Oyo State, over the weekend as two separate road crashes claimed one life, left two others injured, and severely disfigured a pedestrian. Authorities have blamed both incidents on dangerous driving and blatant disregard for traffic rules.

The first accident involved a TVS motorcycle with registration number LUY 306 UT, which crashed at Agbarigo, Mokola. The collision resulted in the immediate death of one individual at the scene, while two others sustained injuries.

The second incident saw a tricycle rider, reportedly driving against traffic, plough into a pedestrian, Mr Oladayo Adisa, inflicting serious injuries to his face.

Confirming the incidents in a statement on Sunday, the Chairman of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), Dr Adekoya Adesagba, said Mr Adisa had been attempting to cross the road near a filling station when the tricycle, travelling at speed on a one-way lane, hit him unexpectedly.

“Mr Adisa was struck without warning and suffered severe injuries due to the recklessness of the tricycle operator,” Dr Adesagba said.

He condemned the incidents as symptomatic of a growing public safety crisis on the roads and warned that the state government was prepared to intensify enforcement of traffic laws.

“This kind of recklessness is unacceptable. The government will not hesitate to implement stricter enforcement measures to safeguard the lives of our citizens,” he stated.

According to eyewitnesses, the tricycle rider fled the scene immediately, making no effort to assist the injured victim. One bystander informed OYRTMA officials that the driver reportedly claimed he lacked the funds to offer help.

Thanks to the prompt intervention of OYRTMA officers and the station manager present, Mr Adisa was quickly transported to a nearby hospital. Upon regaining consciousness, he commended the swift response of the agency and urged harsher penalties for violators.

“If OYRTMA catches any rider using one-way lanes, they should not be released until they are prosecuted in court,” he said.

In response to the fatal motorcycle crash, OYRTMA’s emergency rescue team was deployed to the scene. All victims were taken to the Oyo State Hospital, Ring Road.

Items recovered from the site, including a bag containing a substantial sum of money, were later handed over to the family of the deceased, a gesture the agency said reflected its commitment to accountability and trust.

Dr Adesagba expressed appreciation to the state government for its continued support in addressing road traffic challenges.

“We are grateful for the government’s ongoing efforts to protect lives and ensure public safety. OYRTMA remains dedicated to these objectives and will not relent in holding traffic offenders to account,” he said.

He called for community cooperation in stemming the tide of road incidents, stressing that lasting change requires a joint approach.

“Only through collective responsibility and collaboration can we reduce the frequency of these tragedies and make our roads safer for everyone,” he concluded.