A tragic weekend collision on the Lekki-Epe Expressway has left four men dead and four others fighting for their lives after an out-of-control truck rammed into a fully loaded commercial mini-bus.
Securitynewsalert.com gathered that the accident, which occurred opposite Beechwood in the Shapati area, involved a HOWO truck and a Suzuki commercial mini-bus, popularly known as a “Korope.”
According to officials from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the truck driver lost control of the heavy-duty vehicle, veering across the carriageway and smashing into the oncoming bus.
The impact was catastrophic. Four male passengers died instantly, while the remaining four occupants, two men and two women, were pinned inside the mangled remains of the bus with severe fractures. LASTMA personnel, alongside Good Samaritans and other emergency responders, worked painstakingly to cut the survivors out of the wreckage.
“Our personnel mobilised immediately to the scene to extricate those trapped,” said Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment for LASTMA. “It was a delicate operation given the state of the commercial vehicle.”
The survivors were rushed to Hamon Royal Hospital for emergency treatment. The bodies of the deceased were evacuated by a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) ambulance and deposited at the Shency Hospital Morgue.
The driver of the HOWO truck (registration KNN 313 YL) and his assistant, or “motorboy,” reportedly fled the scene immediately following the crash. The Elemoro Police Division is currently investigating the incident. While security operatives managed to maintain order at the scene and restore traffic flow, the hunt for the absconded driver remains a priority.
In a statement released following the tragedy, LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki expressed his “profound grief” and offered condolences to the families of the victims.
“We are praying for the swift and complete recovery of those currently receiving medical attention,” Bakare-Oki stated.
The General Manager also issued a stern warning to operators of articulated vehicles, urging them to cultivate more responsible driving habits to prevent such avoidable tragedies.
“Motorists, particularly those driving heavy trucks, must exercise utmost caution and strictly adhere to traffic safety regulations. The lives of Lagosians are not negotiable,” he added.
