A truck driver has lost his life, while his motor boy sustained multiple injuries in a lone accident involving a 40-foot containerised articulated vehicle along the Isheri-Elemu inward Ijegun area of Lagos State.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, confirmed the incident in a statement issued by the Director of the Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq.
According to the agency, the accident involved an empty articulated truck, which reportedly lost balance while in motion and overturned on the road.
The statement explained that the driver became trapped beneath the fallen truck and died instantly due to the impact of the crash, while the motor boy survived with fractures and other injuries.
“The unfortunate incident resulted in the immediate death of the driver, who became trapped beneath the overturned truck and succumbed instantly to the impact of the crash. The motor boy accompanying the deceased, however, survived the accident with multiple injuries and fractures and was promptly rescued and evacuated to a nearby medical facility for urgent medical attention,” the statement read.
LASTMA said preliminary findings showed that the truck was not carrying any cargo at the time of the accident before it suddenly lost stability and overturned.
Following the incident, operatives of the LASTMA Rescue and Recovery Unit were deployed to the scene for emergency response operations.
The agency disclosed that its officials successfully recovered the body of the deceased driver from beneath the wreckage and also rescued the injured motor boy for treatment.
LASTMA added that traffic officers immediately secured the area and carried out traffic control measures to avoid further accidents and reduce disruption along the route.
Officers of the Isheri-Osun Police Division were also said to have provided security support during the rescue and recovery operation.
To clear the road and restore traffic movement, the agency said a heavy-duty crane and a flatbed recovery truck were deployed to remove the overturned truck from the scene.
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Bakare-Oki Olalekan, expressed sadness over the death of the driver and sympathised with his family.
He also wished the injured motor boy a quick recovery.
Mr Bakare-Oki stressed the need for regular maintenance and proper inspection of heavy-duty vehicles operating on Lagos roads.
“Critical safety components, including braking systems, steering mechanisms, tyres, suspension assemblies and other essential mechanical parts, must undergo regular professional assessments to ensure optimum operational efficiency and prevent avoidable tragedies,” Bakare-Oki said.
He further urged transport operators, truck owners and drivers to ensure that their vehicles remain roadworthy and comply with all safety regulations, noting that mechanical failures continue to pose a serious danger to lives and property.
