One dead, driver injured in separate road accidents in Lagos

A motor assistant has died while a driver sustained injuries in three separate emergencies involving road accidents and a broken-down truck in Lagos State.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, said the incidents occurred at Oke-Oso in Epe, Odo-Iyalaro Bridge inward Maryland and Olosha in Mushin during overnight and early morning operations.

A statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said its Tiger Response Team was activated at about 7:58 pm on the previous day following a collision involving two vehicles on Odo-Iyalaro Bridge, inward Maryland.

The vehicles were identified as a Toyota Camry with registration number AGL-70HU and a Toyota Venza with registration number FST-893KF.

Preliminary investigations showed that the Venza had stopped by the roadside after running short of fuel, while the Camry rammed into it.

The agency said the Camry driver was suspected to have been driving under the influence of alcohol.

Although no life was lost in the incident, the driver of the Camry sustained injuries and was stabilised by LASEMA paramedics and the Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS.

He was subsequently taken to the Trauma Centre for further medical attention, while both vehicles were towed to Area F Police Station.

LASEMA said its response team cleared the accident scene and reopened the bridge to motorists.

In a separate incident at Olosha, Mushin, the agency’s Eagle Response Team was deployed at about 10:36 pm after a truck broke down and obstructed traffic.

The team found a HOWO truck with registration number JJJ-293XZ stuck due to a damaged section of the road, leaving about 60 per cent of the carriageway blocked.

No casualties were recorded in the incident.

The agency said traffic diversion measures were immediately introduced to ease movement while arrangements were made to recover the truck.

It added that its heavy-duty recovery equipment, Super Metro, was deployed to remove the vehicle from the affected section of the road.

The truck was successfully recovered and moved to a lay-by, allowing normal vehicular movement to resume.

However, the third incident, which occurred at Oke-Oso, inward Itokin, Epe, resulted in the death of a motor assistant.

LASEMA said its Whales Response Team stationed in Epe was activated at about 6:19 am following a collision involving two granite-laden tipper trucks.

Investigations revealed that one of the trucks, with registration number ABG-226XB, suffered brake failure, lost control and sideswiped another tipper truck.

The agency said the motor assistant in the first truck was thrown out of the vehicle and died on impact.

“The remains of the deceased adult male were recovered, bagged and handed over to the Federal Road Safety Corps,” the statement said.

Both trucks involved in the crash were recovered from the scene and taken to the FRSC office.

LASEMA expressed sympathy to the family of the deceased and urged motorists to pay attention to the condition of their vehicles, avoid driving after consuming alcohol and obey road safety regulations.

The agency also assured Lagos residents that it remained prepared to respond to emergencies across the state.

It urged members of the public to report emergencies through its toll-free numbers.