Two dispatch riders lost their lives on Sunday when two fully loaded articulated trucks collided and crashed on them at the Eko Bridge, inward the Alaka corridor of Lagos State.
The accident which occurred in the early hours of the day, involved two fully loaded Mack trucks with registration numbers T-10357 LA and KJA 107 XM.
It was gathered that the trucks first collided and overturned before crashing on the dispatch riders, resulting in their death.
Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq attributed the tragic incident to the driver of one of the trucks who dozed off while on excessive speed.
According to him,” Preliminary findings suggest that the driver of one of the articulated trucks, reportedly driving at an excessive speed while allegedly dozing off, lost control of the vehicle. The truck then careened into another moving truck ahead of it, triggering a violent impact.
“This catastrophic collision led to the dislodgement of a 20-foot container from one of the trucks, which subsequently crushed two unsuspecting dispatch riders who were navigating the route at the time. Both victims were confirmed dead at the scene.”
Adebayo further said swift and coordinated response from LASTMA officers who were on routine traffic monitoring duty beneath the Eko Bridge, ensured the immediate rescue of one severely injured truck driver.
The injured driver was promptly transported to a nearby hospital in a Lagos State Government ambulance for urgent medical attention.
Adebayo said the remaining two truck drivers absconded from the scene, fearing attacks from the public.
He added that LASTMA personnel immediately cordoned off the affected stretch of the bridge and redirected vehicular traffic through the Costain Roundabout inward Alaka en route the Stadium.
Consequently, LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki expressed deep sorrow to the bereaved families over the loss of innocent lives.
Bakare-Oki reiterated the importance of responsible driving, particularly for operators of articulated vehicles.
He charged all drivers to exercise utmost caution, maintain full alertness, and ensure their vehicles were roadworthy before commencing any journey.
Bakare-Oki further emphasised the agency’s ongoing, robust public enlightenment campaigns aimed at instilling safety consciousness among drivers, especially those operating heavy-duty vehicles.
However, LASTMA said investigations were underway to trace and apprehend the fleeing drivers involved in the fatal crash.
