The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed a fatal road traffic collision that claimed the lives of two passengers along Ikorodu Road, Lagos, on Monday.
According to LASTMA, the accident occurred opposite Olabode House, after Anthony and before Obanikoro, involving a red Tata commercial bus and a Volkswagen commercial bus. Preliminary findings revealed that the Tata bus, travelling at excessive speed from Palmgroove toward Anthony, lost control, breached the median barrier and rammed into the Volkswagen bus heading in the opposite direction.
“The impact was severe and resulted in the instant death of an adult female passenger, while an eight-month-old female infant later succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash,” said Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA.
He disclosed that LASTMA operatives, with the support of members of the public, promptly carried out rescue operations, successfully extricating 10 injured victims, including both drivers. “Six passengers were rescued from the Volkswagen bus, while four others were evacuated from the Tata bus, all sustaining varying degrees of injuries,” Adebayo added.
To prevent secondary accidents, LASTMA officials cordoned off the scene and evacuated the wrecked vehicles, restoring traffic flow along the Ikorodu Road corridor. The injured victims were conveyed to nearby hospitals by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), while officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) recovered the remains of the deceased. Security was provided by officers from the Ilupeju Police Division.
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased, particularly the mother of the infant, who also sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving medical care. He described the crash as “a painful reminder of the devastating consequences of speeding and poor vehicle maintenance.”
Bakare-Oki warned motorists, especially commercial drivers, against reckless driving and stressed the importance of routine vehicle roadworthiness checks, particularly braking systems. He reaffirmed LASTMA’s commitment to safeguarding lives through proactive traffic management, rapid emergency response and continuous public enlightenment, urging all road users to prioritise safety at all times.
