One person has been confirmed dead while four others were rescued after a road accident at Ekoro Junction inward Abule-Egba in Lagos State on Friday evening.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, via the agency’s X handle.
According to the agency, the crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. when an empty MACK tanker reportedly experienced brake failure, lost control and rammed into a Toyota Corolla before ploughing into a roadside shop.
The tanker, bearing registration number EKY 900 XY, collided with a Toyota Corolla marked AAA 823 AY.
The impact caused significant damage to the shop and sparked panic among traders and passersby in the area.
“The magnitude of the collision led to the immediate confirmation of one fatality at the scene, while four other trapped persons were extricated from the wreckage through coordinated emergency rescue efforts,” the agency stated.
The authority explained that it promptly activated its Rescue and Recovery Protocol, deploying specialised personnel to the scene.
“Personnel implemented strategic traffic diversion, vehicular evacuation procedures and crowd management in synergy with other emergency responders to forestall secondary incidents and guarantee unobstructed access for rescue operations,” LASTMA added.
Emergency teams were said to have provided medical assistance to the injured victims after rescuing them.
A heavy-duty tow truck was subsequently deployed to remove the damaged tanker and clear debris from the road to restore normal traffic movement.
The agency revealed that the tanker driver fled the scene shortly after the incident, adding that security operatives had commenced efforts to apprehend him and initiate legal action.
“Security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Ekoro Division, responded expeditiously, maintaining public order, securing the accident perimeter and assisting in investigative processes aimed at establishing the precise sequence of events that culminated in the mechanical failure and subsequent collision.
“The incident precipitated considerable traffic congestion extending across adjoining routes toward Abule-Egba, necessitating robust traffic management interventions by LASTMA officials who remained on ground directing vehicular movement and implementing diversion strategies to alleviate the backlog,” it said.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sympathy to the family of the deceased and urged transport operators, especially drivers of articulated vehicles, to ensure routine vehicle maintenance.
“Preventable mechanical deficiencies remain a significant contributory factor in severe road traffic crashes,” Bakare-Oki said.
He also advised motorists to remain vigilant, comply with traffic regulations and adopt responsible driving habits, particularly in densely populated commercial areas.
Bakare-Oki assured residents that security agencies would carry out a comprehensive investigation to determine both the immediate and remote causes of the accident and ensure that anyone found culpable would face prosecution in line with extant laws.
Other emergency responders at the scene included the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Ambulance Service, the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit and officers of the Nigeria Police Force, who worked together to coordinate rescue operations, medical response and environmental safety measures.
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