Many Escape Death As Fully-ladden Truck Plunges From Bridge, Lands On Commercial Buses In Agege, Lagos + Photos
By Omowumi Omotosho
Many people mostly, commuters and traders miraculously escaped violent death on Saturday when a fully-ladden truck plunged from the Agege bridge in Lagos and landed on two commercial buses in the ever busy market and motor park below.
Although no life was reportedly lost in the accident, the driver of the truck with the registration number GGE 624 Y was severely injured.
The two commercial Volkswagen buses the truck landed on were crushed.
According to the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Olakekan Bakare-Oki who made the incident known in a statement,LASTMA officers responded swiftly and successfully extricated the severely-injured driver and immediately entrusted him to officers of the Elere Police Division.
He added that the driver was subsequently conveyed to the General Hospital, Ile-Epo for urgent medical intervention.
Bakare-Oki stated further that, “Preliminary inquiries suggest that the truck driver, who suffered grievous fractures to both hands, lost control of the vehicle while navigating the Pen Cinema Bridge.
“Consequently, the truck plunged from the bridge, landing upon the two commercial buses stationed beneath.”
The LASTMA boss said that in a bid to safeguard other road users and forestall secondary incidents, the authority’s personnel swiftly secured the accident site by cordoning off the area and diverting vehicular traffic.
Bakare-Oki added: “Thereafter, operatives of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority Response Unit expeditiously cleared the wreckage, thereby restoring unimpeded traffic flow along the axis.”
He implored motorists, particularly truck operators, to exhibit heightened vigilance and circumspection, especially with the onset of the rainy season.
He urged strict compliance with road safety protocols, and urged drivers to use the newly-installed speed-limiting devices, a measure strategically deployed to mitigate accidents and promote collective road safety.
He wished the driver rapid and full recovery.
