Lagos Bridge Crash Kills Two Dispatch Riders as Trucks Collide, Drivers Flee

According to preliminary investigations, one of the truck drivers, reportedly speeding and allegedly dozing off behind the wheel, lost control of his vehicle, a statement signed by Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department said on Sunday.

Two dispatch riders tragically lost their lives in a fatal road accident on Sunday along the Eko Bridge, heading towards the Alaka corridor. The collision involved two fully loaded Mack trucks with registration numbers T-10357 LA and KJA 107 XM.

The incident has sparked grief and concern across Lagos, particularly among road users.

This caused the truck to crash into another moving truck ahead, resulting in a violent impact.

The crash led to the dislodgement of a 20-foot container, which fell and crushed two dispatch riders who were travelling along the route. Both riders were confirmed dead at the scene.

Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), who were on routine patrol under the bridge, quickly responded. One truck driver, who sustained serious injuries, was rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital by a Lagos State Government ambulance.

However, the other two truck drivers fled the scene, likely out of fear of the deadly consequences of the crash.

To prevent further danger and ensure the safety of motorists, LASTMA officers promptly cordoned off the affected section of the bridge and redirected traffic through the Costain Roundabout, inward Alaka, en route to the National Stadium.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased. He decried the needless loss of life and stressed the importance of responsible driving-particularly among operators of articulated vehicles.

Investigations are currently underway to trace and apprehend the fleeing drivers involved in the fatal crash, Bakare-Oki said.

He also noted that LASTMA continues to intensify public awareness campaigns to promote road safety, especially among truck drivers and operators of heavy-duty vehicles.

An investigation is currently ongoing to identify and apprehend the drivers who fled the scene.

Emergency responders at the scene included the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), and officers from the Iporin Division of the Nigeria Police Force.