A yet-to-be-identified driver narrowly escaped death on Saturday evening after a Mack truck carrying an empty 20-foot container was engulfed in flames around the Alausa Secretariat, inward Otedola Bridge axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The incident occurred shortly after a similar tragedy along the Lekki-Epe corridor, where two people — a driver and his assistant — died in an explosion involving a trailer and a gas truck.
Emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, quickly arrived at the scene and brought the fire under control.
Eyewitnesses said the truck caught fire while in motion before the driver managed to stop the vehicle.
The driver was said to have escaped with minor injuries.
The swift and coordinated response of LASTMA and the fire service helped contain the blaze, preventing a potential major disaster.
Their intervention also ensured that traffic flow was restored promptly, reducing disruption for commuters and business activities along the busy route.
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting lives and property on Lagos roads.
He advised motorists to carry out routine mechanical and electrical checks on their vehicles and exercise caution while driving, stressing that proper maintenance is essential in preventing such incidents.
“LASTMA remains steadfast in its statutory mandate to ensure a safe, efficient and seamlessly regulated traffic ecosystem throughout Lagos State,” he said.