Two persons have lost their lives following a collision involving two fully loaded 40-foot container trucks along the Cele inward axis of the Oshodi–Apapa Expressway, Mile 2, Lagos.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq.
According to the agency, one of the deceased was the driver of truck T-392 LA, while the second victim was a suspected trespasser whose presence around the articulated vehicles could not be immediately explained.
“The driver was severely trapped within the steering compartment of his truck, requiring painstaking extrication by our Rescue and Recovery Team.
“The second deceased was carefully retrieved from beneath one of the trucks following an intensive search and recovery operation conducted under strict safety protocols,” the statement read.
LASTMA disclosed that the operation was carried out in collaboration with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, whose technical support aided the complex recovery efforts.
Security at the accident scene was maintained by officers of the Ilasa Police Division to ensure perimeter control and preservation of evidence.
The agency added that the remains of the victims were evacuated by the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit after notification by LASTMA, paving the way for gradual restoration of vehicular movement along the busy logistics corridor.
“Upon the conclusion of on-site operations, LASTMA formally handed over the incident to officers of the Ilasa Police Division, whose statutory mandate encompasses conducting a comprehensive investigation to determine the immediate and remote causes of the tragic occurrence,” the statement added.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, describing the crash as a painful reminder of the risks associated with high-density freight routes.
He reiterated the agency’s call for disciplined driving among operators of articulated vehicles, urging strict adherence to speed limits and regulatory measures put in place to safeguard lives and property.
Bakare-Oki further stressed that night freight operations require greater vigilance, careful manoeuvring and adequate warning systems to prevent avoidable disasters.
Also confirming the incident, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency said preliminary findings revealed that one of the container trucks rammed into another stationary truck from behind due to excessive speed.
In a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency noted, “Upon arrival at the scene, the LASEMA Eagle Response Team discovered an incident involving two 40-foot containerised trucks with unknown registration numbers.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that one of the containerised trucks rammed into another stationary 40-foot containerised truck from behind due to excessive speed.
“The impact of the collision resulted in the driver of the moving truck and his motor boy being trapped inside the truck cabin. Despite ongoing rescue and recovery efforts, both victims were confirmed dead at the scene.”
He added that recovery operations were ongoing to evacuate the trucks and their contents in order to restore normal traffic flow, while traffic control measures had been put in place to prevent secondary incidents.
The tragic development comes barely two days after a truck reportedly lost its brakes and killed six persons along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
