by Willy Okonji-
Tragedy struck early yesterday along Old Ipaja Road near Agbotikuyo, Lagos, when a 40-foot container-laden truck toppled onto a commercial minibus, locally known as a “Korope,” killing the driver on the spot.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) reported that the Mack truck, bearing registration number MUS 729 XY, suffered a brake failure while heading toward Iyana Ipaja. The loss of control caused the truck to overturn and crush the minibus.
Emergency responders, including officials from LASTMA, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and LASAMBUS, quickly arrived at the scene. The body of the deceased driver was recovered, while three passengers — a man and two women — were rescued from the mangled vehicle. Though they sustained no visible injuries, they were transferred to medical personnel for observation.
The incident caused major traffic congestion, spilling into adjacent roads such as Shofunde and Olufunlayo. LASTMA operatives swiftly enforced diversion strategies to ease the gridlock and restore order.
The truck driver attempted to escape but was intercepted by LASTMA and handed over to officers from Elere and Area ‘G’ Police Commands for further investigation.
Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, expressed sympathy to the bereaved family and emphasized the state’s zero-tolerance stance on road safety violations.
“This is a preventable tragedy. Truck operators must conduct routine mechanical inspections, especially of braking systems, before putting vehicles on the road,” Giwa said. He reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to strict enforcement of traffic regulations and the removal of unsafe vehicles from the road network.
