The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed that six people lost their lives in a tragic accident along the Ibeju axis of the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
According to a statement issued on Monday by LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, nine others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rescued with the help of emergency response teams.
“The deceased include two men, three women, and one child,” Bakare-Oki said.
He added that the injured survivors, comprising three men and six women, were promptly evacuated and taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Epe and Hammond Hospital for urgent treatment.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at FMC’s morgue pending identification by their families. Four other individuals reportedly escaped the crash unharmed.
Bakare-Oki explained that the joint efforts of LASTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) ensured quick rescue operations and traffic clearance at the accident site.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the crash involved a blue Volvo FL6 truck loaded with wooden planks and a white commercial bus (registration number AKD 336 YD). The cause was attributed to excessive speeding and reckless driving.
The LASTMA boss expressed condolences to the bereaved families and lamented the growing trend of unsafe driving practices on Lagos highways. He reiterated the agency’s warning that “speed may thrill but ultimately kills.”
Bakare-Oki urged motorists to exercise patience, obey traffic regulations, and drive defensively, particularly during the high-risk “Ember Months.” He stressed the importance of avoiding distractions and maintaining full concentration while driving to safeguard all road users.