DG LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu
A series of tragic road accidents across Lagos State on Wednesday claimed four lives and left seven others injured, according to official reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
The most severe crash occurred along the Ibeju-Lekki Expressway at Berger Bridge, inward Eleko, involving a Toyota Hiace interstate bus and an articulated truck carrying a 20-foot container.
Confirming the casualties in a statement, LASEMA Permanent Secretary Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu revealed that preliminary investigations showed the truck driver was ascending the bridge at high speed when the vehicle collided with the bus.
“The truck driver lost control while attempting to avoid the collision, causing the truck to overturn onto the bus,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated.
Four adult males died on the spot, while six other adult males sustained varying degrees of injuries. Emergency responders from LASEMA’s Epe Base, alongside officers from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Police Force, secured the crash site and administered immediate first aid.
The surviving victims were subsequently rushed to Epe General Hospital for medical care, while heavy-duty recovery cranes were deployed to lift the overturned truck and extricate the victims’ remains.
Early Morning Crash at Agege
In a separate early-morning incident at approximately 4:09 a.m., LASEMA’s Tiger Team responded to a solo truck crash near Vetland School, inward Agege Pen Cinema along Old Abeokuta Road.
The vehicle, carrying registration number KTU-940XT, rammed into a solar-powered streetlight pole before mounting the road median, bringing traffic to a standstill.
LASEMA attributed the accident to reckless driving. No casualties were reported, and the agency utilized its heavy-duty recovery vehicle, ‘Elephant’, to clear the road before handing the truck over to the Abattoir Police Station.
A third accident occurred along the LASU-Igando corridor at Lanre Bus Stop, inward Igando, involving a DAF truck (SMK 795 XY) and a Toyota Corolla (AKD 169 EA).
According to emergency officials, traffic congestion caused by a broken-down vehicle prompted the DAF truck driver to drive against the flow of traffic, resulting in a head-on collision with the Corolla.
The driver of the Corolla suffered a minor head injury and was taken to Igando General Hospital by an associate.
LASEMA’s Beta Team deployed its ‘Super Metro’ heavy-duty equipment to tow the truck and clear the highway, while the car was towed to the Igando Police Station.
Expressing condolences to the families of the victims and wishing the injured a quick recovery, Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu urged all motorists across the state to exercise caution.
He strongly warned against excessive speeding, reckless driving, and driving against traffic (one-way), emphasizing the necessity of routine vehicle maintenance before embarking on journeys.
He further reminded residents to promptly report emergencies to the state’s free response lines, 112 and 767.
