Four people lost their lives while four others sustained serious injuries in a fatal road collision involving a truck and a commercial bus along the Lekki–Epe Expressway over the weekend,
The accident, which occurred opposite Beechwood in Shapati inward Ajah, involved a HOWO articulated truck with registration number KNN 313 YL and a fully loaded Suzuki commercial mini bus popularly known as a “Korope.”
According to a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of LASTMA, Taofiq Adebayo, preliminary findings indicated that the truck driver lost control of the vehicle while in motion, causing the heavy-duty truck to veer across the carriageway and violently ram into the oncoming commercial bus conveying passengers along the busy corridor.
Adebayo explained that the force of the collision led to the death of four male passengers, while four other occupants, comprising two males and two females, sustained severe fracture after becoming trapped inside the wreckage of the crushed commercial vehicle.
He noted that LASTMA officials quickly mobilised to the scene of the crash and, with the support of other emergency responders and passersby, worked to extricate the trapped victims from the mangled remains of the bus.
“The four critically injured victims rescued from the wreckage were immediately conveyed to Hamon Royal Hospital for urgent medical treatment, while the remains of the four passengers who tragically lost their lives were respectfully evacuated and deposited at Shency Hospital Morgue with an emergency ambulance belonging to the Federal Road Safety Corps,” Adebayo said.
He added that security personnel of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Elemoro Police Division ensured orderliness at the accident scene and provided security for rescue officials and other road users during the emergency response.
Police authorities have reportedly commenced an investigation to determine the remote cause of the fatal crash.
According to the statement, the driver of the truck and his motorboy fled the scene shortly after witnessing the magnitude of the incident.
Reacting to the tragedy, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.
Bakare-Oki also prayed for the quick recovery of the injured victims currently receiving treatment.
He commended the swift response and collaboration among emergency responders, noting that their prompt intervention contributed significantly to the successful rescue of the trapped passengers.
The LASTMA boss further urged motorists, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles, to exercise caution, obey traffic regulations and adopt responsible driving habits to prevent avoidable road tragedies across the state
