At least one person has died on Saturday, while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries after a truck lost control and toppled at Cele, along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos State.
It was gathered that the truck experienced brake failure, causing the driver to lose control before the vehicle fell on its side, crashing into seven other vehicles.
The deceased is yet-to-be-identified. The affected vehicles include five commercial buses and privately-owned Toyota Camry and a Toyota Sienna.
In a video obtained by THE WHISTLER, passersby and emergency responders were seen attempting to rescue victims from the wreckage.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, said the truck was speeding when it suffered brake failure.
“Preliminary findings from on-site investigations indicate that the heavy-duty truck, conveying two large containers, suffered a catastrophic brake failure while traveling at an excessive speed. The resulting loss of control led to the dislodgment of the containers, which subsequently collapsed onto 5 commercial buses and a pair of private vehicles, causing significant structural damage and human casualties.
“One of the commercial bus drivers sustained multiple compound fractures to both his arm and leg, while the remaining injured parties were promptly evacuated by LASAMBUS to the General Hospital, Isolo medical facility for immediate and comprehensive treatment,” Adeboye said in a statement.
Reacting to the tragic incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, extended his condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
He emphasized the importance of regular mechanical checks for articulated vehicles, especially those transporting containerized cargo
Bakare-Oki also urged motorists to strictly adhere to speed limits and obey existing traffic regulations designed to ensure safety on public roads.
