Dare Babalola
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has reported a serious road accident that occurred in the early hours along the Heritage Garden stretch of the Oshodi–Oke route, leaving two passengers badly injured.
The incident was allegedly caused by excessive speeding, which led the long red Tata commercial bus to collide with another truck that was in motion at the time.
In a statement by Adebayo Taofiq, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, on Sunday, operatives of the agency stationed within the corridor promptly responded after receiving a distress alert.
On arrival, officers rescued two passengers who were trapped inside the damaged bus and immediately activated emergency response procedures, Taofiq confirmed.
Emergency procedures were immediately activated, and the Lagos State Ambulance Services, LASAMBUS, was contacted.
The medical team provided first aid at the scene before transporting the victims to a hospital for further treatment.
According to LASTMA spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq, “LASTMA officers apprehended the driver of the commercial bus for investigation, while the damaged vehicle was evacuated from the roadway to eliminate obstruction, prevent secondary collisions, and ensure the uninterrupted flow of vehicular traffic along the expressway.”
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sympathy to the injured passengers and wished them a speedy and full recovery.
He described the incident as regrettable yet avoidable, stressing the dire and often irreversible consequences associated with speed-related traffic infractions.
Bakare-Oki seized the opportunity to renew a strong appeal to both commercial and private motorists to exercise prudence, restraint, and responsibility while driving, by strictly observing prescribed speed limits as clearly displayed on government-approved highway signage.
“Speeding remains one of the most prevalent causes of road traffic crashes and needless loss of lives. Adherence to speed regulations is not optional; it is a civic and moral obligation essential to safeguarding all road users,” he stated.
