A tragic collision between a J5 Ford bus (FKJ 724 YC) and a Mercedes truck (FKJ 746 YC) occurred at Ilubirin, heading toward Sura, along the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge, resulting in one fatality and four injuries.
According to a statement issued on Monday by Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the agency promptly responded to the scene and led the rescue operations, freeing five victims from the wreckage.
Of those rescued, four sustained injuries, while the fifth person tragically died from their injuries.
“The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed a tragic collision involving a J5 Ford bus (FKJ 724 YC) and a Mercedes truck (FKJ 746 YC) at Ilubirin, inward Sura, along the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge.
“The accident, which occurred earlier today, claimed one life and left a total of five individuals affected.
“LASTMA Officials, under the leadership of the General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, promptly arrived at the scene and spearheaded the rescue operations. With the support of concerned bystanders, four victims were extricated from the wreckage, three of whom were rescued alive.
“Tragically, one individual, trapped inside the J5 Ford bus laden with pepper and other perishable goods, succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.
“Preliminary findings suggest that the J5 Ford bus experienced brake failure while travelling at high speed, resulting in a collision with the Mercedes truck. Emergency response teams, including the Lasema Response Unit (LRU), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Police Force, and LASAMBUS, collaborated with LASTMA to manage the situation.
“All survivors were swiftly transported to the General Hospital on Lagos Island for immediate medical attention.
“In a coordinated effort to restore normalcy, LASTMA’s rescue team efficiently cleared the accident site, removing the vehicles and spilt perishable goods to ensure the free flow of traffic along the bridge.”
Bakare-Oki expressed his sincere condolences to the grieving family and emphasized the crucial importance of road safety, especially during the festive season.
He called on drivers, particularly those operating heavy-duty vehicles, to refrain from speeding excessively and to ensure their vehicles, especially the braking systems, are in optimal condition before embarking on any trip.
LASTMA reaffirmed its dedication to protecting all road users and pledged to continue collaborating with relevant agencies to prevent preventable accidents on Lagos roads.