LAGOS, Nigeria — A truck driver transporting a load of biscuits was rescued in an unconscious state on Sunday, April 30, 2023, after his vehicle tumbled onto a Toyota Camry on the Cele-Egbe Bridge in Lagos State, stirring renewed concerns about traffic safety in the bustling metropolis.
The identity of the driver remains unknown, while the fate of the occupants of the Toyota Camry is also yet to be clarified. The accident happened on the inward Ikotun lane of the bridge, a major artery in the city’s transportation network.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, officials, who arrived promptly at the scene, managed to rescue the unconscious driver from the wreckage.
“Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority today rescued an unconscious accident victim on top of the Cele-Egbe Bridge,” said Taofiq Adebayo, the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department at LASTMA, in a statement on Sunday, April 30, 2023.
“LASTMA Anjorin Adeola, Zebra 7 Ejigbo, who led the rescue team, confirmed that the rescued unconscious accident victim was the truck driver involved in an accident where a white six-tyre truck with number plate FFF 996 XB, loaded with biscuits fell on an unregistered blue Toyota Camry car inward Ikotun, Lagos.”
After their heroic efforts, the LASTMA officials handed over the rescued driver to the Ejigbo Divisional Police Headquarters for further assistance and investigation.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba, seized the opportunity to reiterate the importance of safe driving practices in Lagos State. The agency has been conducting public education and enlightenment about speed limits at various motor parks, including truck and trailer garages.
Adebayo, on behalf of Oreagba, urged motorists to adhere strictly to speed limit signposts erected by the government, and exercise necessary caution when overtaking high-capacity buses and trucks on highways.
“The speed limit signposts erected by the government must be strictly adhered to by all motorists,” Adebayo relayed Oreagba’s message.
While the investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, this incident serves as a chilling reminder of the potential danger on Lagos’ busy roads and the urgency of adhering to traffic rules.
