Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) today apprehended the driver of a Mack truck conveying a fully laden 40-foot container following a multiple-vehicle collision at First Gate, inward Mile 2, Lagos, which left four persons critically injured.
The incident involved the Mack truck, another truck conveying a 20-foot container, a T4 commercial bus (AAA 723 YF) and nine commercial motorcyclists operating on a restricted highway.
Security preliminary findings indicate that the collision was precipitated by an apparent brake failure suffered by the Mack truck, resulting in a loss of braking control and a subsequent violent impact with the 20-foot container, commercial bus and the nine commercial motorcyclists in a devastating chain-reaction collision.
The force of the impact left four victims (3 males & a female) with critical injuries, including multiple fractures to their arms and legs. The gravity of their condition necessitated immediate rescue intervention and urgent medical attention.
LASTMA personnel who were conducting routine traffic management operations within the vicinity responded promptly to the incident and immediately commenced emergency traffic control, rescue and incident-management operations.
The injured victims were successfully extricated from the accident scene by LASTMA officers and subsequently handed over to security personnel from the Roro Police Division, who immediately conveyed them to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment.
In addition to the rescue operation, LASTMA personnel took decisive measures to contain the traffic disruption occasioned by the crash, secure the accident scene and facilitated the removal of the damaged vehicles and other obstructions in order to restore normal vehicular movement along the corridor.
The driver of the fully laden Mack 40-foot container truck, alongside the other drivers involved in the incident were handed over to Police men who provided security backup for further investigation and possible prosecution, subject to the outcome of the investigation.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sympathy to the injured victims and their families, while wishing the victims a swift and complete recovery.
Bakare-Oki reiterated his concern over the continued operation of commercial motorcycles on restricted highways, particularly along heavily trafficked corridors where their vulnerability in interactions with articulated vehicles and other heavy-duty vehicles can significantly aggravate the consequences of road traffic crashes.
He consequently urged motorists, commercial transport operators and all road users to exercise the utmost caution, observe prescribed traffic regulations and ensure that their vehicles are subjected to regular and comprehensive mechanical inspections before being deployed on the roads.
"Operators of articulated vehicles, in particular must accord meticulous attention to the condition of their braking systems, tyres, steering mechanisms and other safety-critical components before embarking on any journey. Mechanical roadworthiness is not merely a regulatory requirement; it is an indispensable safeguard for the preservation of human lives.”
The LASTMA General Manager further emphasised that compliance with traffic regulations remains indispensable to the reduction of avoidable crashes, particularly on strategic transport corridors experiencing substantial vehicular and commercial activity.
Adebayo Taofiq
Director Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA
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