Dare Babalola
A driver, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, narrowly escaped fatal injury when a truck caught fire at the Alausa Secretariat inward Otedola Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Saturday evening.
The incident happened just hours after a devastating accident on the Lekki-Epe corridor, where a trailer and gas truck collided and exploded, claiming the lives of two people, including the driver and his assistant.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, responded to the Otedola Bridge incident in a statement released on Sunday, confirming that it involved a Mack truck carrying an empty 20-foot container.
“Preliminary assessments reveal that the vehicle abruptly ignited while in motion, thereby constituting an immediate and grave threat to adjoining road users and critical infrastructure within the corridor.
“In a remarkable exhibition of vigilance, professionalism and operational dexterity, LASTMA personnel promptly mobilised to the locus in quo.
“Their foremost objective the preservation of human life was achieved with the successful rescue of the truck driver, who escaped the conflagration without injury,” he said.
Given the high-risk nature of the location, particularly around the Otedola Bridge corridor, Bakare-Oki stated that LASTMA operatives activated emergency response protocols and collaborated with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service to manage the situation.
The joint effort led to the swift containment of the fire, preventing it from escalating into a major incident.
He added that the quick response helped to limit the spread of the fire and ensured the timely restoration of traffic flow, reducing disruption for commuters along the route.
Bakare-Oki commended the operatives for their professionalism and composure in handling the situation, reiterating the agency’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
Motorists were advised to carry out regular mechanical and electrical checks on their vehicles and exercise caution while on the road to prevent similar incidents.
