Tragedy struck late Thursday night following a fatal collision involving two fully loaded 40-foot containerised trucks along the Cele inward axis of the Oshodi–Apapa Expressway at Mile 2, Lagos, leaving two persons dead.
The victims were identified as the driver of one of the trucks, marked T-392 LA, and a suspected street urchin whose presence within the operational perimeter of the articulated vehicles could not be immediately determined at the time emergency responders arrived at the scene.
The high-impact crash left the truck driver severely trapped within the steering compartment of his vehicle, requiring painstaking technical extrication by rescue and recovery teams.
Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) successfully retrieved the driver’s remains, while the lifeless body of the street urchin was recovered from beneath one of the trucks after an intensive search conducted under strict safety protocols.
The rescue operation was carried out in close collaboration with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), whose specialised technical support was instrumental in executing the complex recovery process.
Security reinforcement was provided by officers of the Nigeria Police attached to the Ilasa Police Division, who ensured effective perimeter control and preservation of evidence at the accident scene.
In further demonstration of inter-agency coordination, the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) promptly evacuated the bodies of the deceased following a distress call by LASTMA. Their swift response enabled recovery operations to proceed smoothly and facilitated the gradual restoration of vehicular movement along the strategically vital logistics corridor.
Upon the conclusion of on-site activities, LASTMA formally handed over the incident to the Ilasa Police Division for a comprehensive investigation into both the immediate and remote causes of the crash.
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, reiterated the agency’s sustained advocacy for disciplined and responsible driving. He urged operators of articulated vehicles to remain safety-conscious, strictly adhere to speed limits, and comply with all traffic regulations designed to protect lives and property.
Bakare-Oki further stressed that nocturnal freight operations demand heightened vigilance, careful manoeuvring, and adequate warning mechanisms to prevent avoidable tragedies. He also called on all motorists to exercise caution, obey traffic laws, and promptly alert emergency authorities whenever hazardous situations are observed on the highways.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
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