Two dispatch riders perish as trucks collide, overturn on Eko Bridge

Two dispatch riders lost their lives Sunday morning following a crash involving two fully loaded Mack trucks, identified by registration numbers T-10357 LA, and KJA 107 XM on the Eko bridge inward Alaka corridor.

According to Adebayo Taofiq, director, public affairs and enlightenment department of LASTMA, preliminary findings suggest that the driver of one of the articulated trucks, reportedly driving at an excessive speed while allegedly dozing off, lost control of the vehicle. The truck then careened into another moving truck ahead of it, triggering a violent impact.

Taofiq said that this catastrophic collision led to the dislodgement of a 20-foot container from one of the trucks, which subsequently crushed two unsuspecting dispatch riders who were navigating the route at the time.

“Both victims were confirmed dead at the scene,” he said.

Swift and coordinated response from Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Officers, who were on routine traffic monitoring duty beneath the Eko Bridge, ensured the immediate rescue of one severely injured truck driver.

He was promptly transported to a nearby hospital in a Lagos State Government ambulance for urgent medical attention.

However, the remaining two truck drivers absconded from the scene, presumably out of fear of the grim aftermath.

To forestall further incidents and safeguard other road users, LASTMA personnel immediately cordoned off the affected stretch of the bridge and redirected vehicular traffic through the Coastain Roundabout inward Alaka en route to Stadium.

Olalekan Bakare-Oki, general manager of LASTMA, in his message of condolence to the bereaved families, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives.

Bakare-Oki reiterated the critical importance of responsible driving, particularly for operators of articulated vehicles.

He urged all drivers to exercise utmost caution, maintain full alertness, and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before commencing any journey.

He further emphasised the agency’s ongoing, robust public enlightenment campaigns aimed at instilling safety consciousness among drivers, especially those operating heavy-duty vehicles.

“Investigations are currently underway to trace and apprehend the fleeing drivers involved in the fatal crash,” Taofiq noted.

Other emergency responders at the scene of the accident are the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LSNSC), State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) and Police man from Iporin Division of the State.