The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed a catastrophic road traffic incident involving a heavily laden 40-foot containerized articulated truck at Second Rainbow inward Oshodi, precisely along the service lane adjoining the Police Tactical Team Station.
The harrowing incident was caused by loss of control by the articulated Mark 40-foot truck while in transit.
The driver lost total control of the massive vehicle, causing the truck to overturn violently onto a commercial mini shuttle bus while simultaneously ploughing into adjoining roadside commercial outlets within the corridor.
Preliminary security investigations revealed that the articulated truck, conveying a fully loaded 40-foot container, veered uncontrollably off its designated trajectory before descending devastatingly upon the affected commercial axis.
Regrettably, a female roadside Point of Sale (POS) operator under a canopy sustained severe injuries to both legs during the tragic occurrence, resulting in critical trauma and panic within the vicinity.
The injured victim was immediately rescued and evacuated to a nearby medical facility for urgent medical intervention by Officers of the Police Tactical Team stationed within the area.
In rapid response to the emergency, operatives of LASTMA promptly mobilized to the accident scene to institute strategic traffic control measures, secure the affected corridor and coordinate rescue and recovery operations in synergy with security agencies and other emergency responders.
Meanwhile, the driver of the articulated truck was swiftly apprehended by LASTMA personnel and subsequently handed over to officers of the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and possible prosecution.
To expedite the restoration of normalcy, a recovery tow truck was immediately deployed to evacuate the fallen articulated vehicle and the damaged mini shuttle bus, while security operatives from the Orile-Iganmu Division of the Nigeria Police Force commenced comprehensive documentation and preliminary investigations into the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.
Despite the magnitude of the accident and the considerable structural and commercial damage recorded within the vicinity, vehicular movement around the affected corridor remained substantially uninterrupted owing to the timely intervention and proactive traffic management architecture instituted by LASTMA officials.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, reiterated the Authorityās sustained appeal to operators of articulated vehicles, fleet managers and logistics companies to subject all heavy-duty trucks to rigorous mechanical examinations before embarking on operational transit, particularly with respect to braking systems and other critical safety mechanisms capable of endangering public safety if compromised.
Bakare-Oki further emphasized that negligence in vehicular
maintenance continues to constitute a grave menace to human lives, public infrastructure and road safety administration across Lagos State, urging transport stakeholders to embrace uncompromising adherence to established safety protocols and operational discipline.
