A tragic road crash on Ikorodu Road, Lagos, on Sunday claimed the lives of an eight-month-old baby girl and an adult woman, plunging commuters and families into grief.
The fatal accident occurred opposite Olabode House, between Anthony and Obanikoro, when a red Tata commercial bus reportedly travelling at a dangerously high speed lost control while approaching Anthony from Palmgroove.
Eyewitness and preliminary reports indicate that the bus suffered mechanical failure, veered off its lane, smashed through the concrete median barrier and rammed into an oncoming Volkswagen commercial bus heading toward Palmgroove.
The violent collision led to the instant death of an adult female passenger, while the infant later died from severe injuries sustained in the crash. The baby’s mother, who was also injured, is currently receiving medical treatment.
Operatives of the , assisted by members of the public, carried out a swift rescue operation. Ten passengers, including both drivers, were rescued with varying degrees of serious injuries. Six victims were extricated from the Volkswagen bus, while four others were pulled from the wreckage of the Tata bus.
To prevent further accidents, LASTMA officials immediately cordoned off the scene and cleared the damaged vehicles, restoring traffic flow along .
The injured were taken to nearby hospitals by the Lagos State Ambulance Service, while officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit evacuated the bodies of the deceased. Security personnel from the Ilupeju Police Division provided protection throughout the rescue exercise.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing the death of the infant as “a heartbreaking reminder of the deadly cost of recklessness on the road.”
He extended condolences to the bereaved families, especially the injured mother, and urged motorists—particularly commercial drivers—to obey speed limits and ensure vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on any journey.
Bakare-Oki warned that speeding, poor vehicle maintenance and disregard for safety regulations continue to claim innocent lives, stressing that such tragedies are preventable.
Reporting by Adebayo Taofiq