Three students of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu, two males and one female, lost their lives in a multiple-vehicle collision that occurred at Powerline Junction, before Aleje, inward Ikorodu Roundabout.
Seven others, including tricycle operators, sustained grievous injuries in the horrifying crash.
The catastrophic accident involved a tipper truck heavily laden with sand (unregistered), a Toyota Corolla SMK 42 AJ, an MPV Bus, and 4 tricycles.
Preliminary investigations by traffic operatives revealed that the tipper truck, while travelling at an excessive speed, suffered a mechanical brake failure, causing the driver to lose control.
The runaway vehicle careened into other road users, colliding forcefully with multiple vehicles and tricycles in its path, leading to devastating wreckage and loss of lives.
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), in a swift, coordinated, and professional response, immediately stormed the scene to forestall secondary accidents and to conduct rescue operations.
They were reinforced by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from the Odongunyan Division and security personnel from the Shagamu Police Division.
Together, they rescued and swiftly conveyed seven critically injured victims to nearby medical facilities for urgent treatment, while the three deceased casualties were respectfully evacuated and deposited at the General Hospital, Ikorodu mortuary.
Following the evacuation, all wrecked vehicles were meticulously removed from the accident scene by LASTMA personnel to restore order and ensure the free flow of traffic along the corridor.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed profound grief and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased students, praying for divine strength and consolation to bear their irreparable loss.
He further wished all injured victims a swift and complete recovery. Mr Bakare-Oki lamented that the incident was entirely avoidable, decrying the recurring menace of recklessness, overspeeding, and poor vehicular maintenance, particularly defective braking systems, as persistent causes of fatal road mishaps across the State.
He sternly admonished all commercial and heavy-duty vehicle operators to strictly adhere to statutory speed limits, undergo periodic mechanical checks, and uphold the highest standards of road discipline to preserve lives and property on Lagos roads.
Reaffirming the Authority’s commitment, the General Manager assured members of the public that LASTMA remains steadfast in its mission to promote road safety, enforce traffic discipline, and ensure rapid emergency response across all parts of Lagos State.
