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A mother and her child have been killed after two trucks conveying 20-foot containers overturned at Mile 2, near Freeman Market, inward Apapa, Lagos State.
The fatal incident occurred over the weekend, leaving the victims trapped beneath the overturned trucks and their containers.
The Director of the Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed the incident in a statement on Sunday.
According to him, the victims sustained fatal injuries when the heavily laden trucks overturned, crushing them beneath the vehicles and their cargoes.
“The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority over the weekend responded to a devastating road traffic incident at Mile 2, by Freeman Market, inward Apapa, in which a mother and her child lost their lives following the overturning of two heavily laden 20-foot containerised trucks,” Taofiq said.
He described the incident as devastating, noting that the victims were trapped beneath the overturned trucks and containers.
Rescue operation, traffic diversion
Taofiq said LASTMA rescue and recovery personnel were immediately deployed to the scene to evacuate the victims, remove the overturned trucks and manage traffic.
He explained that the affected section of the road was temporarily cordoned off to facilitate the rescue operation and prevent further accidents.
Motorists travelling towards Apapa were diverted through an adjoining service lane to reduce congestion and ensure the safety of other road users.
According to him, the agency deployed a crane and a high-capacity tow vehicle to lift and remove the overturned trucks and their containerised cargoes.
Police officers also provided security during the operation, while the remains of the deceased were taken to the Police Mortuary in Yaba for necessary procedures.
LASTMA calls for investigation
Reacting to the tragedy, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and called for a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Bakare-Oki urged relevant security agencies to determine whether mechanical defects, excessive loading, improper distribution of cargo, driver negligence or other factors contributed to the accident.
He stressed that establishing the cause of the incident was necessary to prevent similar tragedies and strengthen compliance with road safety regulations.
The LASTMA boss also called on operators of articulated vehicles to ensure that their trucks were roadworthy, properly maintained and loaded in accordance with prescribed safety standards.
He emphasised that containerised cargoes must be properly secured before heavy-duty vehicles are allowed to operate on public roads.
“The preservation of human life remains paramount,” Bakare-Oki said, urging motorists, particularly operators of heavy-duty articulated vehicles, to exercise caution and comply with established traffic regulations.
He added that responsible driving, routine vehicle inspections and proper maintenance were essential to reducing avoidable road crashes.
Another truck accident recorded in Ogun
The Lagos incident comes days after another fatal truck accident was reported along Mile 6, Ajebo Road, in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
PUNCH Metro had reported that a motorboy died while three other people, including a truck driver, sustained injuries when a cement-laden trailer crashed on Wednesday.
The spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, said the accident occurred at Agbedejobi village when the trailer reportedly suffered brake failure while descending a bridge.
According to Akinbiyi, the driver lost control while attempting to avoid a car ahead, causing the trailer to crash into a ditch before veering onto a railway track and spilling its cement load into a nearby bush.
The two incidents have renewed concerns about the dangers posed by heavy-duty vehicles on Nigerian roads, particularly when mechanical faults, improper cargo loading or driver errors are involved.
Authorities have continued to urge truck operators to prioritise vehicle maintenance, observe loading limits and comply with road safety regulations to prevent further loss of lives.
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