Trucks kill four, injure seven in Lagos, Ogun multiple crashes

Four persons lost their lives in no fewer than four crashes that occurred in different parts of Lagos and Ogun states on Monday.

The accidents, according to different statements from the Commandant of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Seni Ogunyemi, and the spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, also left seven persons with varying degrees of injuries.

Giving an update on the Lagos accidents, Taofiq confirmed that at least three persons lost their lives when a truck with Dangote Cement inscription crashed into a tricycle and a parked car in the Ita-Opo area of Epe after a brake failure.

He added that the bodies of the victims of the Epe accident were taken to the Epe General Hospital.

Taofiq said, “A harrowing incident unfolded today at Ayeyoro, Epe, leading to the tragic demise of three individuals. The calamity involved a Dangote truck (DCG-TM-028), which experienced a critical brake failure while descending from Ita-Opo. The out-of-control vehicle collided with a tricycle (Marwa AGL 442 QC) and a stationary Toyota Camry at the Ayeyoro traffic light before veering into the Ayetoro Market Complex in Epe.

“The unfortunate collision resulted in the fatalities of the tricycle driver and two students from Manpower Technical School. First responders from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, with the assistance of the Federal Road Safety Corps, swiftly arrived on the scene to secure the area.

“The deceased were respectfully transported to the Epe General Hospital mortuary. Prompt efforts were made to clear the wreckage, including the Dangote truck, to alleviate traffic congestion and safeguard other road users.”

Taofiq continued that six other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in two separate accidents along the Ijaiye inward Abule-Egba area and Tsunami Bridge in the Ketu area of the state.

“In a separate but related incident, another accident was reported at Ijaye inward Abule-Egba. The crash involved an LT Bus (FKJ 762 AD) and a Toyota Hiace Bus (MUS 154 YE), attributed once again to brake system failure. LASTMA personnel acted swiftly, extricating the driver and two passengers, who were then urgently conveyed to a nearby medical facility for treatment.

“Additionally, LASTMA officers successfully rescued three individuals, two females and one male, from a multi-vehicle collision at the Tsunami Bridge, inward Ketu. This accident, involving two Volkswagen commercial buses (LSD 483 CT and AGL 267) and a 10-tyre DAF truck, left victims with varying degrees of injuries. They were promptly transported to a nearby hospital for immediate medical intervention, while officers from Alapere Police Station provided essential security support during the rescue operations,” Taofiq added.

LASTMA General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, was quoted to have reiterated the importance of vehicular maintenance and implored all motorists to diligently ensure that their vehicles, particularly the braking systems, are in optimal condition before setting out on any journey. “Regular maintenance checks are crucial to preventing such calamitous incidents and preserving lives,” the statement noted.

Meanwhile, the TRACE Commandant in a traffic update to journalists on Monday disclosed that an early morning accident left a female passenger dead while one other sustained injuries.

He stressed that the accident occurred when a motorcycle rammed into a moving truck along the Agbara-Lusada Expressway in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.

Ogunyemi added that the accident occurred at about 8 am and was caused by “wrongful overtaken and excessive speeding on the part of the motorcycle which made him rammed under the moving MAN DIESEL truck according to an eyewitness account.”

He identified the vehicles involved as a red colour MAN DIESEL FST 133 XU, and a BAJAJ motorcycle.

“Three people including two adult males and one adult female were involved. One adult female died while one adult male was injured.  The injured victim was taken to hospital before our arrival while the presumed dead body was taken away by the Family for burial,” Ogunyemi stated.