Two people were injured in Oshodi, Lagos State, on Wednesday after a commercial bus suffered a brake failure and crashed into a culvert.
The incident occurred in front of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) headquarters, along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, inbound Oshodi Oke.
“We just recorded an unfortunate incident in front of LASTMA HQ inward Oshodi Oke on Apapa Oshodi Expressway,” LASTMA confirmed in a brief statement on social media.
“A commercial bus had a brake failure and rammed into the Culvert. 2 victims on the ground are about to be taken to the nearby hospital. Our officials are also at the location to maintain sanity and ease the traffic backlog,” the statement added.
In the early hours of Wednesday, a yet-to-be-identified driver died in an accident near the Secretariat, inward Otedola Bridge, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The incident occurred when the driver, operating a minibus commonly referred to as “Korope,” collided with a moving long truck. The crash was said to have been caused by brake failure resulting from excessive speeding.
The severe impact left the driver trapped within the wreckage.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the incident.
He expressed regret that, despite the combined efforts of LASTMA, the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the driver was recovered lifeless. His body was subsequently handed over to FRSC personnel.
However, the swift response of the responders ensured the immediate rescue of other passengers, all of whom emerged unscathed.
“In a collaborative effort, LASTMA officers, alongside LASAMBUS personnel and FRSC officials, worked relentlessly to extricate the trapped driver. Regrettably, despite their commendable efforts, the driver was recovered lifeless. His remains were subsequently handed over to FRSC personnel by LASTMA officers,” Adebayo explained.
He extended LASTMA’s deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to promoting safer roads and preventing avoidable tragedies.
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, emphasized the importance of adhering to traffic regulations, especially maintaining safe speeds and ensuring proper vehicle maintenance.
“This heartbreaking incident serves as a profound reminder of the dire consequences of reckless driving. We implore all road users to prioritize safety and exercise utmost caution while on the road,” he stated.
This incident comes less than 24 hours after a tragic accident on Otedola Bridge on Tuesday, which claimed the life of an unidentified man and left three others injured. The accident involved four articulated trucks carrying containers. It was gathered that the deceased was trapped and extricated from beneath one of the trucks.
