The driver of the Lexus SUV involved in the fatal road crash that injured former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has been taken into police custody as authorities investigate the circumstances of the accident.
The incident occurred on Monday along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, resulting in the tragic deaths of two of Joshua’s friends. The boxer was subsequently hospitalized in Lagos and was discharged on Wednesday.
According to the Ogun State Police Command, the driver was also discharged from medical care on Thursday but was immediately escorted to police headquarters in Abeokuta for questioning.
“The driver of the Lexus SUV is currently in custody in connection with the Anthony Joshua accident case. Investigations are ongoing,” confirmed the Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, in a statement to press on Thursday.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had earlier cited overspeeding and wrongful overtaking as likely causes of the crash, which involved the SUV colliding with a stationary truck. The FRSC has since handed the case over to the police Motor Traffic Department for further investigation.
While police spokesperson Babaseyi emphasized that the investigation aims to determine the driver’s level of culpability, a police source informed Daily Trust that the driver could be formally charged and arraigned in court as early as Friday.
However, Babaseyi declined to confirm any timeline for prosecution, reiterating that the investigation remains active. When asked whether the driver was arrested or invited voluntarily, he noted, “We were proactive enough to be at the hospital. That’s all I can say.”
The Lexus SUV remains in police custody, while the stationary truck involved is held by FRSC authorities near the accident scene.
The Ogun State Police Command assures the public that due process will be followed as they work to conclude investigations into the tragic crash.
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