A three-member family — father, mother and child — lost their lives in a fatal multi-vehicle crash on Wednesday at Secretariat inward Otedola Bridge along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority,LASTMA, confirmed the tragedy in a statement issued by its General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who described the crash as a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers posed by reckless driving on major highways.
The collision occurred in the early hours of the day and involved three cars: an Audi, a Toyota Camry and a Toyota Corolla.
The crash was triggered when a heavily loaded truck, reportedly speeding along the corridor, rammed into one of the vehicles from behind. The impact propelled the car into two other moving vehicles, setting off a fatal chain-reaction.
In a troubling twist, the truck driver fled the scene with the vehicle immediately after the crash, abandoning the victims and evading responsibility for the deadly incident.
LASTMA personnel arrived swiftly and worked with other emergency responders to rescue survivors trapped in the wreckage. Two critically injured victims were extracted and taken away by the Lagos State Ambulance Service,LASAMBUS, for urgent medical attention.
The three deceased victims, found together in one of the vehicles, were removed and handed over to the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit,SEHMU, for evacuation.
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The injured survivors were later transported to the Lagos State Emergency and Trauma Centre at the Toll-Gate for specialised care.
Security operatives from the Isheri Police Division secured the scene throughout the rescue operation, while LASTMA officials cleared the damaged vehicles from the expressway to prevent further accidents.
The response team also included the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, SEHMU, LASAMBUS, and the Lagos Fire and Rescue Service.
Bakare-Oki expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the family, stressing that the incident once again highlights the deadly consequences of excessive speeding, particularly by drivers of articulated and heavily loaded trucks.
He urged motorists to maintain safe speeds, remain vigilant and prioritise defensive driving on highways.
He affirmed that LASTMA will continue to intensify traffic surveillance, enforce safety regulations, and strengthen collaboration with security and emergency agencies to prevent similar tragedies.
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