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Investigators in Nigeria have said that excessive speed and a burst tyre were key factors in the road accident involving former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, which claimed the lives of two members of his entourage.
The crash occurred on Monday morning along the busy Lagos–Ibadan expressway in Ogun State, southwestern Nigeria.
Joshua, who holds British nationality and is of Nigerian descent, survived the incident and is currently receiving medical care in Lagos.
According to Nigeria’s Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), preliminary findings indicate that the sports utility vehicle carrying the boxer was travelling at high speed when the front passenger-side tyre suddenly burst.
The driver subsequently lost control of the vehicle, which veered off course and collided with a stationary truck parked by the roadside.
TRACE spokesman Babatunde Akinbiyi told AFP that investigators were confident overspeeding played a decisive role in the accident. He said the tyre failure caused the vehicle to swerve before crashing into the truck, describing the speed involved as “excessive”.
Joshua, 36, was taken to Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, where authorities said he remains in a stable condition while undergoing checks and treatment.
Disturbing images and video footage circulating online showed a visibly injured and shirtless Joshua being assisted from the wreckage, grimacing in pain. Other footage revealed the black SUV was badly damaged, with much of the front end crushed.
Matchroom Boxing, Joshua’s promotional company, confirmed that two of his close associates — promoter Sina Ghami and team member Latif Ayodele — were killed in the crash. Nigerian police said both men died at the scene.
Joshua’s family originates from southwestern Nigeria, and the former champion frequently visits the region when in the country.
