Four Critically Injured In Lagos Truck Crash

Four persons sustained critical injuries after a truck conveying a fully laden 40-foot container lost its brakes and crashed into multiple vehicles at First Gate, inward Mile 2, Lagos.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, said the incident involved the Mack truck, another truck conveying a 20-foot container, a T4 commercial bus with registration number AAA 723 YF and nine commercial motorcyclists operating on the restricted highway.

Preliminary findings indicated that the Mack truck suffered an apparent brake failure, resulting in a loss of braking control and a chain-reaction collision.

The four victims, comprising three males and a female, sustained critical injuries, including multiple fractures to their arms and legs.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the collision was precipitated by an apparent brake failure suffered by the Mack truck, resulting in a loss of braking control and a subsequent violent impact with the 20-foot container, commercial bus and the nine commercial motorcyclists in a devastating chain-reaction collision.

“The force of the impact left four victims (3 males & a female) with critical injuries, including multiple fractures to their arms and legs. The gravity of their condition necessitated immediate rescue intervention and urgent medical attention,” the statement said.

LASTMA operatives conducting routine traffic management operations in the area responded to the incident, rescued the injured victims and handed them over to security personnel from the Roro Police Division.

The police subsequently conveyed the victims to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment.

LASTMA also said its personnel secured the scene, managed traffic and facilitated the removal of the damaged vehicles and other obstructions to restore normal vehicular movement along the corridor.

The driver of the Mack truck and other drivers involved in the crash were handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution, subject to the outcome of the investigation.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, sympathised with the injured victims and their families while wishing them a swift recovery.

Bakare-Oki also urged motorists and commercial transport operators to exercise caution, comply with traffic regulations and ensure their vehicles undergo regular mechanical inspections.

He specifically advised articulated vehicle operators to pay close attention to their braking systems, tyres, steering mechanisms and other safety-critical components before embarking on journeys.