A tragic accident involving a J5 Ford bus and a Mercedes truck claimed one life and left four others injured on Monday morning at Ilubirin, inward Sura, along the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a statement on X on Monday, noting that officials led by the agency’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, promptly arrived at the scene to commence rescue operations.
The statement signed by the Director of LASTMA’s Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, reads partly, “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has confirmed a tragic collision involving a J5 Ford bus (FKJ 724 YC) and a Mercedes truck (FKJ 746 YC) at Ilubirin, inward Sura, along the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge.
“The accident, which occurred earlier today, claimed one life and left a total of five individuals affected.
“LASTMA Officials, under the leadership of the General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, promptly arrived at the scene and spearheaded the rescue operations. With the support of concerned bystanders, four victims were extricated from the wreckage, three of whom were rescued alive.
ALSO READ: 18-seater bus accident on Third Mainland Bridge flings two passengers into Lagoon
“Tragically, one individual, trapped inside the J5 Ford bus laden with pepper and other perishable goods, succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.”
The survivors were immediately taken to the General Hospital on Lagos Island for medical attention. Preliminary investigations suggested that brake failure in the J5 Ford bus, coupled with high speed, caused the vehicle to collide with the Mercedes truck.
Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Nigerian Police Force, among others, worked alongside LASTMA to manage the situation.
The accident caused significant traffic congestion, extending from the site to the Unilag waterfront. However, LASTMA’s team cleared the scene, removing the vehicles and spilt goods to restore traffic flow.
Expressing condolences to the deceased’s family, Bakare-Oki highlighted the importance of road safety, particularly during the festive season.
He urged drivers, especially those operating heavy-duty vehicles, to avoid excessive speeding and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, with functional braking systems, before embarking on journeys.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then