One Dead, 17 Injured In Lagos Multiple Accident
A yet-to-be-identified passenger has died while 17 others sustained various degrees of injuries in a multiple accident that occurred Sunday morning at the Maryland area of Lagos State.
The accident occurred on the Odo Iya-Alaro Bridge.
THE WHISTLER gathered that a truck while at top speed inward Ojota had lost control and rammed into seven other vehicles.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, attributed the cause of the accident to brake failure.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the driver of a Mack truck, with registration number KWL 923 XB and fully laden with diesel, lost control of the vehicle while speeding towards Ojota. In a desperate attempt to apply faulty brakes, the truck rammed into seven other vehicles (Buses and cars) from behind, causing widespread damage.
“The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Rescue Team, who diligently respond to all overnight incidents on the State’s roads, was the first to arrive at the scene. They promptly called in additional emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire Service (LASAMBUS) the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit (LRU) and Police men from Anthony Police Station.
“Regrettably, a passenger in one of the affected buses suffered fatal head injuries and died instantly. LASAMBUS personnel administered urgent medical care to the 17 injured individuals, who were subsequently transported to nearby hospitals for further treatment,” Adebayo said in a statement.
Meanwhile, General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured victims a swift recovery.
“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones affected by this tragic accident. We remain committed to ensuring the safety of all road users in Lagos State,” he stated.
But also confirming the incident, Head, Public Affairs Unit of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Nosa Okunbor, said three casualties were reportedly recorded in the multiple accidents, and had been taken away before arrival of the the agency’s response team at the incident scene.
According to him, an unascertained number of people were reportedly critically injured and had been taken to various hospitals before the arrival of agency’s LRTs at the incident scene.
“Following distress calls at 0057hrs via the 767/112 Toll-Free Lines, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, activated it’s Response Teams from Onipanu Base and the Command and Control Centre, Alausa.
“Upon arrival of the LASEMA Response Teams at the incident scene by 0113hrs, the LRT met a multiple accident scene involving an oil tanker, registration number unknown, fully laden with diesel, which reportedly suffered mechanical error (break failure) on motion, lost control and crashed into many cars which reportedly resulted in many casualties.
“The second accident, also involved an articulated truck, registration number unknown, conveying a fully laden 40-foot container, which reportedly rammed into a MACK truck, registration number unknown, laden with refill industrial bottles due to careless driving and over-speeding,” Okunbor said in a statement.
