A tricyclist has been confirmed dead after a truck lost control and rammed into three vehicles at Ekoro Junction along the Abule-Egba/Command Road in Lagos on Wednesday.
An eyewitness identified simply as Abiodun told PUNCH Metro that the incident occurred in the early hours of the day when the trailer reportedly lost its brakes.
According to him, the heavy-duty vehicle crashed into a tricycle and two other cars, leaving the tricycle operator dead and two drivers severely injured.
Abiodun said, “A ghastly accident occurred this morning, and it was a terrible sight. A trailer lost its brakes and rammed into a tricycle and two other vehicles at Ekoro Junction.
“The trailer crushed the tricyclist’s head, while about three others were severely injured. It was the police and LASTMA officers who came to evacuate the body and rescue the injured.”
A police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that the deceased was the tricycle driver, while the injured persons were the drivers of the other vehicles involved.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the incident in a statement, attributing the cause to brake failure.
He identified the vehicles involved as a six-tyre trailer (registration number AGL 514 XD), a Honda Pilot (FST 992 DV), a Toyota Camry (EKY 753 JA), and an unregistered tricycle.
Taofiq said, “Preliminary investigations by security operatives revealed that the accident was triggered by a mechanical brake failure in the fully loaded trailer, whose driver consequently lost control of the vehicle.
“The trailer, in its uncontrollable descent, crushed the tricycle beyond recognition before colliding with a Honda Pilot, vaulting over the median, and smashing into a Toyota Camry and nearby property on the opposite lane.
“Operatives of LASTMA arrived at the scene promptly, rescuing two severely trapped victims after confirming the instantaneous death of the tricycle operator. The scene was cordoned off to prevent secondary incidents and allow for emergency operations.”
He added that the crash caused temporary gridlock in the area, which was later cleared by traffic officials.
Reacting to the tragedy, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the crash as both “tragic and preventable.”
“Mr. Bakare-Oki extends his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased tricycle operator and prays for the swift recovery of the injured victims.
“He further admonishes all motorists, particularly operators of articulated and heavy-duty vehicles, to exercise utmost caution, ensure frequent mechanical inspections, and observe all safety protocols,” the statement read in part.
Also commenting, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, revealed that the truck was conveying beverages and bottled water when it fell on the tricycle parked by the roadside.
He said, “Upon arrival of LRT at the incident scene, a Volkswagen truck registration number AGL 514 XD, laden with beverages and bottled water was found to have fallen on a tricycle AKA Keke NAPEP, at the above-mentioned location.
“Preliminary investigations conducted at the scene of the incident revealed that the truck suddenly suffered a mechanical error (brake failure) while descending the road, and all efforts by the driver to stop the truck proved abortive.
“Unfortunately, an adult male, driver of the tricycle, lost his life to the incident when the truck crashed into the parked tricycle and two other cars with unknown registration numbers,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated.
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