At least one person died and four others injured in a fatal collision that occurred on Monday morning at Ilubirin, inward Sura, along the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge, involving a J5 Ford bus and a Mercedes truck.
According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the crash occurred earlier in the day, claiming the life of one individual and leaving five people involved in total.
LASTMA Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the accident in a statement shared on X.
He detailed how LASTMA officials, led by General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki, responded quickly to the scene and initiated rescue operations.
The statement read, “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority 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.”
All survivors were immediately transported to the General Hospital on Lagos Island for treatment.
Preliminary findings suggest that the J5 Ford bus suffered brake failure while traveling at high speed, causing the collision with the Mercedes truck.
The statement also mentioned that emergency response teams, including those from the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Federal Road Safety Corps, and Nigerian Police Force, collaborated with LASTMA in managing the situation.
Traffic congestion, which stretched from the accident scene to the Unilag waterfront on the Third Mainland Bridge, was eventually cleared by LASTMA’s rescue team.
The team removed the wreckage, along with spilled perishable goods, ensuring the resumption of smooth traffic flow.
Bakare-Oki expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased, urging the public to prioritize road safety, particularly with the festive season approaching.
He also called on drivers, especially those operating heavy-duty vehicles, to ensure their vehicles are in good condition, particularly the brakes, and to avoid speeding before taking any journey.
