Driver crushed to death along Lekki-Epe expressway

A truck driver was crushed to death on New Year’s Day following a tragic road accident along the Lekki–Epe Expressway in Lagos.

The incident occurred around the Shangotedo area, inward Eleko, after a fully loaded 40-foot containerised truck reportedly lost balance and overturned on the roadway.

According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the deceased driver was attempting to place a “C” caution sign on the road to warn oncoming motorists when a speeding vehicle knocked him down.

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In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA described the incident as a deeply distressing and avoidable tragedy.

“Preliminary security findings indicate that the articulated truck lost balance and capsized at the location,” the statement said.

LASTMA explained that its 24-hour night monitoring team promptly responded to distress alerts, secured the accident scene and took measures to prevent secondary collisions and protect other road users.

“However, in a deeply distressing turn of events, while the truck driver was conscientiously attempting to deploy a ‘C’ caution sign to alert oncoming motorists, a recklessly speeding vehicle struck him,” the agency said.

The driver of the vehicle reportedly fled the scene without rendering assistance, while the impact resulted in the immediate death of the truck driver.

LASTMA rescue operatives evacuated the deceased from the carriageway and handed over the remains to officers of the Elemoro Police Station, who responded following an emergency alert. The agency said investigations were ongoing to identify and apprehend the fleeing driver.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who visited the scene, expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased, describing the incident as heartbreaking but preventable.

He urged motorists to exercise caution, obey traffic laws and adhere strictly to speed limits as stipulated by the Lagos State Government, warning that excessive speeding and disregard for warning signs remain major contributors to road fatalities.