Many Causalities As 40-Foot Container Falls On Vehicles On Expressway
A road accident involving a 40-foot containerised truck has left one person dead and five others injured along the Cele Expressway, inward Oshodi, Lagos State.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident, which occurred earlier on Saturday, involved the articulated truck, five commercial buses, and two private vehicles — a Toyota Camry and a Sienna bus.
Preliminary reports from LASTMA indicate that the truck, which was carrying two large containers, suffered a catastrophic brake failure while moving at high speed.
The driver lost control, causing the containers to detach and crash onto the nearby vehicles, resulting in severe damage and casualties.
A pedestrian was killed on the spot, while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
One of the commercial bus drivers reportedly suffered compound fractures in both his arm and leg. Emergency responders from LASAMBUS transported all injured victims to the General Hospital in Isolo for urgent medical attention.
The LASTMA officers, in collaboration with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and concerned citizens, conducted swift rescue operations and helped restore normal traffic flow along the expressway. The Ijesha-Tedo Police Division also deployed officers to maintain order at the scene.
In a statement, LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
He emphasised the need for regular mechanical inspections of articulated vehicles, particularly those transporting heavy containers, and urged strict adherence to traffic regulations.
“The safety of all road users is paramount. We cannot continue to lose lives to preventable incidents caused by vehicle negligence and reckless driving,” Bakare-Oki said.
“An investigation is currently underway to determine the full circumstances of the crash and ensure accountability,” the statement added.
