Four persons died and seven others sustained injuries in three separate road accidents in Lagos on Wednesday, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has said.
LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the incidents in a statement, saying the fatal accident occurred at Berger Bridge, inward Eleko, along the Ibeju-Lekki Expressway.
The accident involved an articulated truck conveying a 20-foot container and an interstate Toyota Hiace bus.
Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency received a distress call and immediately deployed its response team from Epe Base to the scene.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the truck was ascending the bridge at excessive speed 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 males died at the scene, while six others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
LASEMA, alongside the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force, secured the scene and administered first aid to the injured, who were subsequently taken to Epe General Hospital for further medical attention.
The agency also secured a private crane to recover the overturned truck and container and facilitate the safe extrication of the deceased. Recovery operations were ongoing, with traffic management measures deployed to ensure safety along the corridor.
In a related incident, LASEMA’s Tiger Team from C3 Base responded to a truck accident at about 4:09 a.m. near Vetland School, inward Agege Pen Cinema, along Old Abeokuta Road.
The truck, with registration number KTU-940XT, rammed into a solar-powered streetlight pole before mounting the road median and obstructing traffic.
Preliminary findings attributed the incident to reckless driving, although no casualties were recorded. LASEMA deployed traffic diversion measures and later recovered the truck using its heavy-duty equipment, Elephant.
The truck was subsequently taken to Abattoir Police Station for further investigation and safekeeping.
In another incident, LASEMA’s Beta Team from Igando Base responded to a collision at Lanre Bus Stop, inward Igando, along LASU-Igando Road.
The accident involved a DAF truck with registration number SMK 795 XY and a Toyota Corolla with registration number AKD 169 EA.
According to Oke-Osanyintolu, a broken-down truck on the opposite side of the road had caused traffic congestion when the DAF truck, allegedly driving against traffic, collided with the Corolla.
The collision obstructed half of the road inward Igando, while the Corolla driver sustained a minor head injury and was taken to Igando General Hospital by an associate.
The Corolla was towed to Igando Police Station, while LASEMA deployed its heavy-duty equipment, Super Metro, to recover the DAF truck and restore traffic flow. Recovery operations were ongoing.
Oke-Osanyintolu urged motorists to observe speed limits, avoid driving against traffic and making reckless manoeuvres, and ensure their vehicles were mechanically sound before embarking on journeys.
He also advised residents to report emergencies through the state’s toll-free lines, 767 and 112.
The permanent secretary commiserated with the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
