Four people sustained critical injuries after a fully loaded 40-foot container truck was involved in a multiple-vehicle crash at First Gate, inward Mile 2, Lagos, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority said on Tuesday.
LASTMA said its operatives also apprehended the driver of the Mack truck involved in the crash, which also involved another truck carrying a 20-foot container, a T4 commercial bus marked AAA 723 YF and nine commercial motorcyclists.
The agency disclosed this in a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, and shared on X on Tuesday.
According to the statement, preliminary findings showed that the crash was caused by an apparent brake failure in the Mack truck. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle after the brakes failed, leading to a collision with the other vehicles and the motorcyclists.
The four injured victims, comprising three males and a female, reportedly sustained critical injuries, including multiple fractures to their arms and legs.
LASTMA said its personnel, who were carrying out routine traffic management operations in the area, quickly responded to the crash and began rescue, traffic control and incident management efforts.
The agency said its officers rescued the injured victims from the scene and handed them over to security personnel from the Roro Police Division, who transported them to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.
LASTMA personnel also secured the scene, managed the resulting traffic disruption and facilitated the removal of the damaged vehicles and other obstructions to restore traffic flow along the corridor
The agency said the Mack truck driver and other drivers involved in the crash were handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution, depending on the outcome of the probe.
The LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, sympathised with the injured victims and their families, wishing them a swift and full recovery.
Bakare-Oki also expressed concern over the continued use of restricted highways by commercial motorcyclists, particularly on busy routes where their exposure to articulated and other heavy-duty vehicles could increase the severity of crashes.
He urged motorists, commercial transport operators and other road users to exercise caution, obey traffic regulations and ensure their vehicles undergo regular and thorough mechanical checks before being driven on the roads.
“Operators of articulated vehicles, in particular must accord meticulous attention to the condition of their braking systems, tyres, steering mechanisms and other safety-critical components before embarking on any journey. Mechanical roadworthiness is not merely a regulatory requirement; it is an indispensable safeguard for the preservation of human lives.”
The LASTMA general manager further stressed the importance of compliance with traffic regulations in reducing avoidable crashes, particularly on busy transport corridors.