Dare Babalola
There was tragedy on Wednesday as a tricycle operator was killed and two others injured in a multiple-vehicle crash that occurred at Ekoro Junction inward Ile-Iwe, Lagos State.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Adebayo Taofiq, the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Wednesday.
Taofiq disclosed that the collision involved a six-tyre trailer, a Honda Pilot, a Toyota Camry, and an unregistered tricycle. He narrated that the crash occurred after the trailer, which was fully loaded, suffered a brake failure and lost control, crushing the tricycle before colliding with the other vehicles.
He said, “Preliminary investigations by security operatives revealed that the calamity was triggered by a mechanical brake failure in the fully loaded trailer, whose driver consequently lost operational control of the vehicle.
“The trailer, in its uncontrollable descent, crushed the tricycle beyond recognition, before colliding with a Honda Pilot and eventually vaulting over the median to smash into a Toyota Camry and adjacent property on the opposing lane.”
Taofiq also revealed that operatives of the agency promptly arrived at the scene of the accident to rescue two severely trapped victims after confirming the immediate death of the tricycle operator.
He continued, “Upon securing the area, LASTMA personnel swiftly notified relevant emergency agencies, including operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SHEMU).
“Thereafter, security officers from the Ile-Epo Police Division conveyed the deceased tricycle operator, alongside the two critically injured survivors, to the General Hospital, Ile-Epo, for urgent medical attention and proper procedural documentation.”
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed profound grief, describing the incident as both tragic and wholly preventable.
He emphasised that such accidents could be averted through strict adherence to statutory speed limits and the regular maintenance of heavy-duty braking systems.
Bakare-Oki extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased tricycle operator, while offering prayers for the swift and complete recovery of the injured victims.
The General Manager reiterated the Lagos State Government’s unwavering dedication to road safety, driver discipline, and uncompromising enforcement of traffic regulations designed to protect lives and property across the metropolis.
He further admonished all motorists particularly operators of articulated and heavy-duty vehicles to exercise utmost caution, ensure frequent mechanical inspections, and observe all safety protocols, stressing that reckless driving and mechanical negligence remain the leading causes of preventable road tragedies in Lagos State.
