Tragedy struck in the early hours of Thursday after a truck loaded with granite collided with a Toyota saloon car, killing the driver on the spot, at Eleko Junction on the Lekki–Ajah Expressway, Lagos.
Doctors at an undisclosed hospital were said to be battling to save the life of the female occupant, believed to be the deceased’s spouse.
This came as a tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of fuel went up in flames around Ile-Zik, inward Magboro, on the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway.
Preliminary investigation into the incident that claimed a life, according to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, indicated that the truck driver, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, was coming from the Epe end at top speed when he suddenly veered off his lane.
According to the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq: “The truck travelling at an inordinate speed from the Epe axis was approaching Eleko junction when it reportedly experienced a catastrophic brake malfunction. The mechanical failure precipitated an abrupt loss of vehicular control, causing the truck to veer off its designated path and collide forcefully with a Toyota saloon car travelling from Ajah inward Epe.
“The sheer momentum of the impact resulted in the truck toppling and descending upon the smaller vehicle, crushing it beneath its prodigious weight. Authoritative reports further indicate that the driver of the Toyota saloon car became entrapped within the mangled wreckage.
“Through the valiant and coordinated intervention of LASTMA personnel and the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in collaboration with public-spirited bystanders, the victim was extricated from the debris. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, seated in the front passenger position, sustained life-threatening injuries and was immediately rescued for urgent medical attention.
“The remains of the deceased and his critically injured spouse were evacuated from the accident scene by an ambulance service deployed by the FRSC for requisite medical and mortuary procedures.
“In a most condemnable abdication of responsibility, the driver of the articulated truck fled the scene immediately, upon witnessing the recovery of the deceased victim, thereby evading lawful accountability.
“Operatives of the Akodo Police Division furnished essential security reinforcement, maintaining order and safeguarding the vicinity throughout the duration of the rescue and recovery operations.
“The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, conveyed his profound condolences to the bereaved family and extended earnest prayers for the expeditious and full recuperation of the injured spouse, while reaffirming the agency’s resolute commitment to the rigorous enforcement of traffic statutes, particularly against reckless driving, mechanical dereliction and egregious violations of established road safety protocols.”
Commenting on the fire incident involving the 33,000 litres of petroleum product, Taofiq said: “The LASTMA Rescue Team, in synergy with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, successfully contained the inferno before it could escalate into a large-scale disaster of catastrophic proportions.
“To guarantee unobstructed emergency access and operational efficiency, LASTMA personnel immediately diverted vehicular traffic into the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, corridor, thereby preserving public safety while minimising disruption. Upon the successful conclusion of firefighting and recovery exercises, the affected corridor was duly reopened, restoring the free flow of vehicular movement.
