The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA has confirmed the death of one person with two others injured in a multiple road crash on Kara Bridge inward Mowe-Ibafo in the early hours of Friday after a truck reportedly suffered brake failure and overturned, triggering a chain collision involving four other vehicles.
In a statement, LASEMA Permanent Secretary Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu,said the agency Response Team was deployed to the scene at about 5:46 a.m. following reports of a truck accident obstructing the bridge.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the truck, loaded with bags of monosodium glutamate, overturned across the carriageway after the driver allegedly lost control due to brake failure, blocking about 75 per cent of the road.
He said the obstruction led to severe traffic congestion and a secondary collision involving a Toyota Sienna, a mini truck conveying paints, a flatbed truck carrying imported plywood and another fully loaded truck.”
The impact spilled paint and wooden sheets across the roadway”.
“An adult male was found trapped beneath the overturned truck and was confirmed dead at the scene. His body was recovered by emergency responders and handed over to officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for evacuation.
Two other adult males sustained minor injuries and received treatment at the scene.
To prevent further crashes, emergency responders secured the area and activated traffic management measures while recovery operations commenced with the deployment of two private tow trucks to remove the affected vehicles and clear the road.
LASEMA said the operation was jointly coordinated by its Response Team, the FRSC, the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
LASEMA hinted that efforts were ongoing to evacuate the damaged vehicles, clear the spilled contents and restore normal traffic flow along the corridor, while advising motorists to obey traffic officials, use designated diversions and maintain safe driving speeds around Kara Bridge.
LASEMA PS, Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu, commiserated with the family of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery, while commending the professionalism of emergency responders and the cooperation of motorists during the rescue operation.
Written by Yemisi Dada