Baby Killed As Overzealous LASTMA Officer Causes Accident

A five-month-old baby has been reportedly killed and several others injured after an official of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority attempted to arrest a commercial bus driver for violating the traffic law around the Awoyokun end of Ikorodu Road.The culprit was said to be among a team of traffic officials from the LASTMA's Anthony office. It said that the bus driver picked up a passenger by the roadside and the officials began trailing the vehicle.One of the LASTMA officials was said to have jumped into the front seat in a bid to arrest the driver.It was learnt that the driver, whose vehicle was filled with passengers, continued driving in a bidto evade arrest.According to Punch report, in the ensuing struggle, the yet-to-be-identified LASTMA official allegedly pulled out the ignition key andthe bus crashed into a stationary refuse truck.A witness, who did not identify himself, said the incident happened at about 12pm.He said, "The driver was caught picking a passenger on the road and the LASTMA officials pursued him. They caught up with him and one of them quickly jumped into the bus and told the driver to give him the key. The driver refused and continued driving.The LASTMA officer started fighting for the control of the steering with him. Before we knew what was going on, the LASTMA man removed thekey from the ignition. At this point, the bus rammed into a refuse truck."A commercial driver, Sola Adeyemo, said the impact of the collision flung out many of the passengers, some of whom sustained fractures."They broke their hands and legs. It was a serious accident. Even the bus driver was injured. A few of them were laid on the road. Those that sustained the most injuries were those by the door. A woman was critically injuredand it will be a miracle if she survived it," he added.It was learnt that the LASTMA official responsible for the accident was equally injured.A witness, who captured the official extricating himself from the bus, said he limped out.He said, "He climbed out while we were trying to save the lives of the passengers and the driver. He stood on top of the bus and then jumped on the refuse truck. From there, he jumped over a nearby fence and ran away."All the victims were taken to the casualty ward of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.Some officials at the casualty ward confirmed that a baby was killed. One of them said, "Some people were brought here and they sustained injuries. Immediately they came, they were attended to and those whose injuries were not serious left."The mother of the child who died was brought here and she was treated. The baby's remains were taken away by the family."But the LASTMA Public Relations Officer, MamudHassan, denied that any life was lost, adding that the driver of the bus was the architect of the crash.On his part, the Police Public Relations Officer, Joe Offor, confirmed the incident, which was reported at the Ilupeju Police division.He said passengers who made statements alleged the accident was caused by the LASTMA official.