Truck crushes three family members in Lagos

Three members of a family — a father, mother, and their young child — have died in a fatal multi-vehicle accident that occurred early Wednesday along Secretariat inward Otedola Bridge on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident, explaining that the crash involved an Audi, a Toyota Camry, and a Toyota Corolla. According to LASTMA spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq, the accident began when a speeding, heavily loaded truck rammed into one of the cars from behind.

The force of the impact caused the vehicle to swerve out of control and collide with two other moving cars, triggering a deadly chain reaction. The truck driver reportedly fled the scene immediately after the crash.

LASTMA officers, alongside other emergency responders, arrived swiftly to rescue trapped victims and clear the wreckage from the road. Two survivors who sustained critical injuries were taken by LASAMBUS to the Lagos State Emergency and Trauma Centre at Toll Gate for urgent medical attention.

The remains of the deceased family were recovered and handed over to the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) for evacuation. Security personnel from the Isheri Olowora Police Division were on ground to support the rescue operation.

The coordinated response included LASTMA, FRSC, LASEMA, LASAMBUS, SEHMU, and the Lagos Fire & Rescue Service. Damaged vehicles were also towed away to prevent secondary accidents.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the incident as “an unbearable and irreplaceable loss of an entire family,” praying for the bereaved and wishing the injured victims a speedy recovery.

He lamented that the tragedy was avoidable, stressing that excessive speeding — especially by articulated and heavily loaded trucks — continues to cause preventable road fatalities. Bakare-Oki urged motorists to obey speed limits, stay alert, and adopt defensive driving habits.

He further reaffirmed LASTMA’s commitment to strengthening road surveillance, enforcing traffic laws, and enhancing collaboration with security and emergency agencies to reduce such incidents.