A tragic accident has occurred on the notorious Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, involving a J5 Ford bus and a Mercedes truck. Authorities of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have confirmed the death of one person and the rescue of four others in the incident. According to the Managing Director of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the accident occurred at Ilubirin towards Sura along the Third Mainland Bridge.
The Managing Director of LASTMA said he immediately led response teams to the scene of the tragic accident, involving a J5 Ford bus (FKJ 724 YC) and a Mercedes truck (FKJ 746 YC). With the help of concerned passers-by, four victims were pulled out of the wreckage, three of whom were rescued alive.
The accident, which occurred earlier in the day, claimed the life of one person who was trapped inside the J5 Ford bus loaded with pepper and other perishable items. Sadly, she did not survive her injuries. Preliminary findings indicate that the J5 Ford bus suffered a brake failure while travelling at high speed, leading to the collision with the Mercedes truck.
Emergency response teams including LASEMA Response Unit (LRU), Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Police and LASAMBUS collaborated with LASTMA to manage the situation. All survivors were quickly rushed to Lagos Island General Hospital for immediate medical attention.
This tragic incident once again highlights the importance of road safety and vigilance while driving. It calls for strict enforcement of traffic rules and regular maintenance of vehicles to avoid such tragedies. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and we hope that measures will be taken to prevent future such accidents. Road safety must remain a top priority to avoid such unnecessary loss of lives.