Four die, seven injured in three Lagos road accidents

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) announced that four people died and seven others were injured in three separate road accidents in Lagos on Wednesday.

The fatal crash, which claimed the four lives, occurred at Berger Bridge, inward Eleko, along the Ibeju-Lekki Expressway, when a truck carrying a 20-foot container overturned onto an interstate Toyota Hiace bus.

LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the agency received a distress call and sent a response team from its Epe base to the scene.

He explained that preliminary findings showed that the truck was travelling at excessive speed while ascending the bridge when it collided with the bus. The driver reportedly lost control while attempting to avoid the collision, causing the truck to overturn onto the bus.

Four adult men died at the scene, while six others sustained injuries and were taken to Epe General Hospital after receiving first aid.

LASEMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the police secured the scene. A private crane was brought in to lift the truck and container and recover the bodies, while traffic management measures were put in place.

The crash occurred days after a mother and her child died when two container trucks overturned near Freeman Market at Mile 2, inward Apapa, Lagos. The victims were trapped beneath the trucks and their containers.

In another incident on Wednesday, a truck rammed into a solar-powered streetlight pole near Vetland School, inward Agege Pen Cinema, along Old Abeokuta Road, at about 4:09 a.m.

The truck, with registration number KTU-940XT, hit the pole, mounted the road median and obstructed traffic.

Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said preliminary findings pointed to reckless driving, but no one was injured.

LASEMA’s Tiger Team from its C3 base diverted traffic and used its heavy-duty recovery vehicle, Elephant, to remove the truck. It was later taken to Abattoir Police Station for investigation and safekeeping.

The third accident occurred at Lanre Bus Stop, inward Igando, along LASU-Igando Road, where a DAF truck collided with a Toyota Corolla.

Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said a broken-down truck on the opposite side of the road had caused traffic congestion when the DAF truck allegedly drove against traffic and hit the car.

READ ALSO: Ogun LG challenges Lagos boundary signpost on disputed Yakoyo–Ojodu Road

The DAF truck had registration number SMK 795 XY, while the Corolla was registered as AKD 169 EA.

The collision blocked half of the road inward to Igando. The Corolla driver sustained a minor head injury and was taken to Igando General Hospital by an associate, the permanent secretary said.

The Corolla was towed to Igando police division, while LASEMA deployed its recovery vehicle, Super Metro, to remove the DAF truck and restore traffic flow.

Mr Oke-Osanyintolu urged motorists to observe speed limits, avoid driving against traffic and reckless manoeuvres, and ensure their vehicles were roadworthy before travelling.

He advised residents to report emergencies through the state’s toll-free numbers, 767 and 112. He also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.