The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has rescued five critically injured passengers after a 40-foot HOWO truck rammed into two commercial buses at Berger Bus Stop, inward Kara Bridge, along the Ojodu axis of Lagos State.
The collision involved an interstate commercial Mazda bus and a Toyota Hiace bus, both conveying passengers, and caused a major traffic backlog stretching to Otedola Bridge.
The Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the agency’s operatives rescued the injured passengers and coordinated emergency response efforts following the crash.
According to the statement, the truck, which was travelling out of Lagos, rammed into the two passenger buses, leaving several occupants seriously injured.
The five rescued victims comprised three females and two males, including the driver. They were evacuated from the scene and conveyed to the Lagos State Emergency and Trauma Centre at Toll Gate for urgent medical attention.
Security personnel from Isheri Police Station also supported the rescue operation, while compassionate motorists transported the injured passengers to the medical facility alongside LASTMA officials.
The agency’s operatives subsequently evacuated the vehicles involved, including the articulated truck, from the carriageway to prevent secondary accidents and facilitate the restoration of traffic flow.
The crash initially caused extensive congestion, with vehicular queues extending backwards to Otedola Bridge. However, LASTMA officials were deployed along the affected corridor to regulate traffic and gradually ease the gridlock.
Following the removal of the vehicles, they were handed over to the police for investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision and any necessary legal action.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sympathy with the injured passengers and wished them a speedy and complete recovery.
Bakare-Oki stressed the importance of responsible driving, compliance with road safety regulations and regular maintenance of heavy-duty vehicles, warning that mechanical defects, reckless driving and loss of control could result in serious road crashes.
He urged operators of articulated trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, exercise caution and remain vigilant while navigating major traffic corridors.
The agency also urged motorists to comply with traffic directives issued by LASTMA officials to promote road safety and prevent avoidable accidents.
