The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that the teenage driver involved in a fatal crash at the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge toll gate in the early hours of Monday will be invited for questioning once he recovers in the hospital.
The tragic accident, which occurred around 1:00 am on Monday, involved two vehicles carrying around eight passengers. Sadly, three young individuals lost their lives at the scene.
A social media user, Dr Love #Drweloveu, who shared details of the incident on X (formerly Twitter), stated, “An 18-year-old driver killed three of his friends in the accident. The police arrested the two remaining survivors. The driver was about 18 years old and didn’t have a driver’s licence.”
“Two died on the spot, and one passed away a few minutes after being pulled from the wrecked car,” Dr Love reported.
He also noted that the drivers of both vehicles emerged without injuries. “The two drivers from both cars came out unharmed, with no scratch on their bodies. They came out hale and hearty, while their friends lay dead.”
In response, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said in a phone interview on Monday that the driver responsible for the crash would be interrogated after being discharged from the hospital.
“Everyone will need to give their statement, especially the driver who caused the accident, to explain what happened. We don’t have any issue with the driver who was the victim, as he hasn’t done anything against the law. We are more concerned with the driver at fault,” Hundeyin explained.
The police handling the situation at the scene has drawn criticism from eyewitnesses. According to Dr Love, “Instead of helping, the police who arrived at the scene handcuffed the survivors, acting like they didn’t care about the bodies on the ground.”
“People in the area, including elders, were shocked by what they saw. They begged the police to focus on taking the dead to the hospital or mortuary instead of arresting those who had just lost their friends,” he added.
Eventually, following numerous complaints from onlookers, the police reportedly released the survivors, and bystanders began to assist by searching for the families of the deceased. “It was a deeply sad night, filled with loss and a feeling that things should have been handled differently,” Dr Love concluded.
However, Hundeyin denied any such claims, insisting that the police acted appropriately and ensured the injured driver received medical attention.
“We went with him to write his statement, but we realized he wasn’t feeling well, so we took him to the hospital as expected and informed his family. If anyone is twisting the narrative, they are merely stating their own version,” Hundeyin said.
According to reports, a dispatch rider at the scene described the harrowing moment when one of the victims was still alive but stopped breathing about 10 minutes after being pulled from the wreckage.
Hundeyin had earlier addressed the incident on X, stating, “The police arrived at the scene and took the occupants of the vehicles to the hospital. Unfortunately, three were certified dead, and the police took their bodies to Yaba mortuary.”
