Two Dispatch Riders Crushed To Death As Trucks Collide On Eko Bridge
Two dispatch riders lost their lives on Sunday morning in a tragic accident involving two articulated trucks on Eko Bridge, inward Alaka, Lagos.
The incident occurred when one of the trucks, allegedly driven by a dozing driver at high speed, lost control and rammed into another moving truck.
The collision caused a 20-foot container to fall from one of the trucks, crushing the dispatch riders who were passing by at the time.
Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), who were on routine patrol beneath the bridge, quickly responded to the scene.
Confirming the incident, LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, said, “Swift and coordinated response from Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Officers, who were on routine traffic monitoring duty beneath the Eko Bridge, ensured the immediate rescue of one severely injured truck driver.
“He was promptly transported to a nearby hospital in a Lagos State Government ambulance for urgent medical attention.
“However, the remaining two truck drivers absconded from the scene, presumably out of fear of the grim aftermath.
“To forestall further incidents and safeguard other road users, LASTMA personnel immediately cordoned off the affected stretch of the bridge and redirected vehicular traffic through the Coastain Roundabout inward Alaka en route to Stadium,” he said in a statement.
Reacting to the accident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives.
He urged drivers, especially those operating heavy-duty vehicles, to remain vigilant, avoid driving under fatigue, and ensure their vehicles are in proper condition before hitting the road.
The agency confirmed that investigations are underway to apprehend the fleeing drivers.
Other emergency response teams at the scene included LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LSNSC), the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), and officers from the Iporin Division of the Nigeria Police Force.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
