ONE FATALITY, FOUR OTHERS RESCUED AS BRAKE MALFUNCTION PROVOKES DEVASTATING COLLISION AT EKORO JUNCTION, ABULE-EGBA; LASTMA ACTIVATES EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROTOCOL.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has formally confirmed a harrowing road traffic catastrophe that transpired this evening at approximately 19:30 hours at Ekoro Junction inward Abule-Egba, culminating in one fatality while four other individuals were successfully rescued with minor injuries following a catastrophic mechanical failure.
An empty MACK tanker experienced a sudden and critical brake malfunction resulting in an abrupt loss of vehicular control and violently rammed into a Toyota Corolla before careening uncontrollably into a nearby roadside shop. The ferocity of the impact occasioned extensive structural devastation and generated palpable panic among pedestrians, traders and adjoining business operators within the corridor.
The tanker (EKY 900 XY) collided with a Toyota Corolla (AAA 823 AY). The magnitude of the collision led to the immediate confirmation of one fatality at the scene, while four other trapped persons were extricated from the wreckage through coordinated emergency rescue efforts.
In a prompt and coordinated intervention, LASTMA activated its Rescue and Recovery protocol, deploying specialised operatives to the incident location to initiate comprehensive emergency response measures. Personnel implemented strategic traffic diversion, vehicular evacuation procedures and crowd management in synergy with other emergency responders to forestall secondary incidents and guarantee unobstructed access for rescue operations.
Emergency teams undertook painstaking extraction procedures, successfully rescuing all trapped victims while facilitating immediate medical attention for affected individuals. To accelerate clearance operations, LASTMA mobilised a heavy-duty tow truck to evacuate the damaged tanker and remove debris obstructing vehicular movement along the axis.
The tanker driver reportedly absconded from the scene immediately after the occurrence an act unequivocally condemned by authorities. Security operatives have commenced coordinated efforts to apprehend the fleeing driver and ensure the initiation of appropriate legal proceedings.
Security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Ekoro Division, responded expeditiously, maintaining public order, securing the accident perimeter and assisting in investigative processes aimed at establishing the precise sequence of events that culminated in the mechanical failure and subsequent collision.
The incident precipitated considerable traffic congestion extending across adjoining routes toward Abule-Egba, necessitating robust traffic management interventions by LASTMA officials who remained on ground directing vehicular movement and implementing diversion strategies to alleviate the backlog.
While conveying profound condolences to the bereaved family, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, reiterated the imperative for transport operators particularly articulated vehicle drivers to prioritise routine mechanical inspections with heightened emphasis on braking systems, noting that preventable mechanical deficiencies remain a significant contributory factor in severe road traffic crashes.
Bakare-Oki further admonished motorists to exercise heightened vigilance, comply strictly with traffic regulations and sustain responsible driving practices, especially within densely populated commercial corridors where mechanical failures often yield catastrophic consequences.
He assured members of the public that security agencies would conduct a comprehensive investigation to unravel the remote causes of the incident and ensure the prosecution of any individual found culpable in accordance with extant laws.
Additional emergency responders present at the accident scene included the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) and officers of the Nigeria Police Force, all of whom collaborated seamlessly with LASTMA operatives to coordinate rescue, medical intervention, environmental safety measures, and the restoration of public order at the incident corridor.
Adebayo Taofiq
Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA
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