Four Killed in Lagos Truck Crash

Four people have died, and six others sustained injuries after a container truck overturned onto a passenger bus on Berger Bridge, inward Eleko, along the Ibeju-Lekki Expressway in Lagos State.

Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, permanent secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

He said the accident occurred in the early hours of the day when a truck carrying a 20-foot container collided with a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number GME-589 ZU.

According to preliminary findings, the truck was travelling uphill on the bridge at high speed when the driver lost control while attempting to avoid the collision, causing the vehicle and its container to fall onto the bus.

The crash killed four adult men at the scene, while six others sustained injuries of varying severity, Oke-Osanyintolu said.

He stated, “A preliminary investigation revealed that the truck was ascending the bridge at excessive speed when it collided with the bus. In an attempt to avoid the collision, the truck driver lost control, causing the truck to overturn onto the bus.

“The impact was severe and tragically resulted in the loss of four adult males who were confirmed dead at the scene, while six other adult males sustained varying degrees of injuries.”

LASEMA responders, working alongside the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force, secured the scene, provided first aid and transported the injured victims to Epe General Hospital.

The agency also arranged for a private crane to lift the overturned truck and container and enable the recovery of the bodies.

Oke-Osanyintolu said recovery operations were ongoing, with traffic control measures in place to protect road users. The state government expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a quick recovery.

In a separate incident, LASEMA’s Tiger Team from its C3 Base responded to a truck crash near Vetland School, inward Agege Pen Cinema, along Old Abeokuta Road, at about 4:09 am on Wednesday.

The truck, with registration number KTU-940XT, struck a solar-powered streetlight pole before mounting the road median and obstructing traffic.

Oke-Osanyintolu attributed the incident to reckless driving, adding that no casualties were recorded. The collision damaged the streetlight pole and the front section of the truck.

Traffic was diverted while LASEMA used its heavy-duty recovery equipment, Elephant, to remove the vehicle. The truck was taken to Abattoir Police Station for investigation and safekeeping, and the road was subsequently cleared and reopened.

In another crash, LASEMA’s Beta Team from Igando Base attended a collision involving a DAF truck, registration number SMK 795 XY, and a Toyota Corolla, registration number AKD 169 EA, at Lanre Bus Stop, inward Igando, along LASU-Igando Road.

The permanent secretary said a broken-down truck on the opposite side of the road had caused congestion before the DAF truck, which was travelling against traffic, collided with the Corolla and blocked part of the road.

No one died in the incident. The Corolla driver sustained a minor head injury and was taken to Igando General Hospital by an associate.

The Corolla was moved to Igando Police Station, while LASEMA deployed its Super Metro recovery equipment to relocate the DAF truck to a lay-by. The recovery operation was still ongoing when the agency issued its statement.

Oke-Osanyintolu urged motorists to obey speed limits, avoid driving against traffic and dangerous manoeuvres, and ensure their vehicles were roadworthy before setting out.

He also advised residents to report emergencies through Lagos State’s toll-free numbers, 767 and 112.