A tragic accident on the Alaro City Bridge in Epe, Lagos State, claimed the lives of four individuals, including a commercial bus driver, on Wednesday. The incident occurred when a truck crashed into a fully loaded bus, leaving 13 other passengers with severe injuries.
Among the injured were market women reportedly travelling to a village market in the area.
The identities of the deceased and injured victims could not be ascertained as of press time. However, emergency responders said the victims were evacuated to a mortuary and a public health facility in the area.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that the crash occurred on the bridge inward T-Junction, Epe.
He said preliminary accounts indicated that the truck rammed into the commercial bus while both vehicles were navigating the single-lane bridge, leaving several victims trapped in the wreckage.
According to him, the collision killed four occupants of the commercial bus, including its driver, while 13 other passengers sustained critical injuries.
“The truck driver also suffered severe injuries, including the loss of both legs, which became trapped in the wreckage following the impact,” he added.
Bakare-Oki said LASTMA operatives, working alongside personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), participated in the rescue and evacuation operations.
“The four deceased victims were evacuated to a mortuary, while the Lagos State Ambulance Service transported the 13 injured passengers to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment,” he said.
Personnel of the Epe Police Division also provided security at the scene to facilitate rescue operations and protect emergency responders.
The LASTMA general manager expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured victims a speedy recovery.
He urged motorists to exercise caution and comply with traffic regulations, particularly when driving on bridges, narrow roads and other sections with limited manoeuvring space.
He added that LASTMA personnel implemented traffic management measures to ease congestion caused by the crash and restore the free flow of traffic along the affected corridor.
Bakare-Oki reiterated the agency’s commitment to road safety and effective collaboration with other emergency response agencies.
He urged motorists to maintain safe following distances, observe speed limits and avoid dangerous driving manoeuvres.
He also warned that reckless driving on narrow bridges and other constricted roadways could result in fatal accidents.
What You Should Know
A fatal collision between a heavy truck and a commercial bus in the Epe area of Lagos has resulted in loss of life and serious injuries to many passengers, many of whom were market women heading to trade. The accident highlights the extreme dangers of narrow bridges and single-lane roads when heavy vehicles are involved.
- Emergency Response: LASTMA, FRSC, and the Police acted quickly to rescue trapped victims and transport survivors to medical facilities, which likely prevented a higher death toll.
- Safety Risks: This incident serves as a grim reminder for motorists to observe speed limits and maintain safe distances, especially on bridges and narrow corridors where there is little room to avoid a collision.
- Impact on Families: Beyond the tragic loss of life, the severe injuries sustained by the truck driver and passengers will have long-term economic and physical consequences for the affected families.
