An articulated truck driver sustained serious injuries on Saturday after the vehicle plunged off the Pen Cinema Bridge in the Agege area of Lagos State, crashing onto two commercial buses parked below.
The driver, whose identity was yet to be ascertained at the time of filing this report, reportedly fractured both arms during the terrifying accident.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, said the driver lost control while navigating the bridge, causing the truck to veer off the edge.
“The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority hereby notifies the general public of a grave road traffic incident that transpired earlier today along Agege, Old Abeokuta Road, involving a fully-laden truck (registration number: GGE 624 YJ) and two painted commercial Volkswagen buses,” Taofiq stated.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the driver suffered grievous fractures to both hands as the truck crashed from the elevated bridge, smashing into the vehicles below.
Responding promptly, LASTMA operatives managed to rescue the injured driver from the wreckage. “Our officers acted with remarkable urgency to extricate the driver, who was then handed over to officers of the Elere Police Division,” Taofiq said. The driver was later rushed to the General Hospital in Ile-Epo for immediate medical attention.
Photographs from the scene, shared by LASTMA, showed the crumpled remains of the truck and damaged buses, underscoring the severity of the crash.
To prevent secondary accidents, LASTMA officials cordoned off the area, while the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) worked to remove debris and restore normalcy.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, sympathized with the injured driver and emphasized the need for greater caution among road users.
“Motorists must always exercise maximum vigilance and adhere strictly to road safety protocols,” Bakare-Oki urged. He further stressed that speed-limiting devices recently installed on major roads were meant to curb such accidents, stating, “The tragic event today is a reminder of why compliance with speed regulations is non-negotiable.”
Bakare-Oki also extended heartfelt wishes for the driver’s quick and full recovery, noting that LASTMA remained committed to safeguarding lives and ensuring order on Lagos roads.
Meanwhile, authorities have begun full investigations into the cause of the accident, amid renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws on Lagos bridges and highways.
