Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have arrested a truck driver following a multiple-vehicle crash that critically injured four people.
LASTMA General Manager Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.
Bakare-Oki said the crash occurred at First Gate, inward Mile 2, and involved a Mack truck carrying a fully laden 40-foot container. It also involved another truck with a 20-foot container, a T4 commercial bus with registration number AAA 723 YF, and nine commercial motorcyclists.
“Preliminary security findings indicate that the collision was caused by an apparent brake failure on the Mack truck. This led to a loss of braking control and a subsequent violent impact with the 20-foot container truck, the commercial bus and the nine motorcyclists in a devastating chain-reaction collision,” he said.
Four victims — three males and one female — sustained critical injuries, including multiple fractures to their arms and legs. The severity of the injuries required immediate rescue operations and urgent medical attention.
LASTMA personnel who were conducting routine traffic management in the area responded promptly. Officers immediately began emergency traffic control, rescue and incident-management operations.
“The injured victims were successfully extricated from the scene by LASTMA officers and handed over to security personnel from the Roro Police Division. They were then taken to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment,” Bakare-Oki said.
The driver of the fully laden Mack truck and the other drivers involved were handed over to the police for investigation and possible prosecution.
Bakare-Oki expressed concern over the continued operation of commercial motorcycles on restricted highways, especially on heavily trafficked corridors. He noted that the vulnerability of motorcycle operators when interacting with articulated and other heavy-duty vehicles can worsen the consequences of road crashes.
He urged motorists, commercial transport operators and other road users to exercise caution and comply with traffic regulations. He also advised vehicle owners and operators to carry out regular and thorough mechanical inspections before putting their vehicles on the road.
Bakare-Oki emphasised that compliance with traffic rules remains essential to reducing avoidable crashes, particularly on strategic transport corridors with heavy vehicular and commercial activity.
