Ola Akinwunmi
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has launched a search for a truck driver who fled the scene of a catastrophic collision on the Eko Bridge that left two people dead and sparked chaos during Sunday’s rush hour.
Preliminary reports indicate the crash occurred when a speeding Mack truck driver, allegedly overcome by fatigue, lost control and rammed into another truck near the Alaka corridor. The collision dislodged a 20-foot container, crushing two dispatch riders who were trapped beneath the debris. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while one severely injured driver was rushed to a nearby hospital.
LASTMA spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq confirmed the agency is pursuing two drivers who abandoned their vehicles, likely “out of fear due to the gravity of the crash.” He stated that the fleeing driver of the truck (registration T-10357 LA) triggered the disaster by “dozing off at excessive speed,” causing a chain reaction.
However, conflicting details emerged from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), whose Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, attributed the crash to a mechanical failure.“Investigations revealed the white Mack truck suffered brake failure, leading to loss of control and a collision with the blue Mack truck,” Oke-Osanyintolu said. He identified the victims as a truck assistant and a dispatch rider pinned by the container, adding that the driver of the faulty truck “absconded unscathed.”
Emergency responders cordoned off the bridge, redirecting traffic through Coastain Roundabout to prevent further accidents. Meanwhile, LASTMA urged witnesses to come forward as authorities intensify efforts to apprehend the drivers.
The tragedy has reignited concerns over road safety and the enforcement of regulations for heavy-duty vehicles in Lagos, a metropolis plagued by traffic fatalities. Taofiq emphasized that investigations remain ongoing, vowing accountability for those responsible.
