Five Dead, Five Injured in Separate Lekki-Epe Road Accidents as LASTMA Warns Against Speeding

Five Dead, Five Injured in Separate Lekki-Epe Road Accidents as LASTMA Warns Against Speeding

Lagos, Nigeria – July 31, 2025: Tragedy struck on the Lekki-Epe Expressway on Wednesday as two separate crashes claimed five lives and left five others severely injured. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed both incidents, attributing them to excessive speeding and reckless driving.

The first crash occurred in the early hours of the day at Abijo Bus Stop, inward Epe, beneath the pedestrian bridge. A Mitsubishi pick-up van with registration number AKD 733 JM lost control while travelling at high speed and rammed into a stationary Craneburg Construction Company truck. Four occupants — three men and one woman — died on the spot.

LASTMA officers rescued three female passengers from the wreckage. They were stabilised at the scene and handed over to the Eleko Police Division for urgent medical attention.

In a separate incident overnight, a Toyota Escort SUV travelling at high speed collided with a stationary Dangote truck near the Frajend Group area, inward Bogije. The driver of the SUV died instantly, while two other passengers sustained serious injuries and were trapped inside the vehicle.

LASTMA personnel, in a painstaking rescue operation, extricated the injured victims and transferred them to the care of officers from the Elemoro Police Division, who facilitated their immediate evacuation to the hospital.

LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep sorrow over the fatal accidents and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

“We stand in solidarity with the families of the deceased in this moment of unspeakable grief,” he said. “These incidents are tragic and preventable. They highlight the devastating impact of speeding and disregard for traffic rules.”

Mr. Bakare-Oki issued a stern warning to motorists, urging both private and commercial drivers to desist from dangerous driving, especially overspeeding, which he described as “a leading cause of fatalities on Lagos roads.”

He noted that the state government has invested in traffic management infrastructure, including road signage, speed limiters, and other safety measures. He urged road users to comply with these tools, which are “meant to protect and save lives.”

He also commended the professionalism and quick response of LASTMA rescue teams, emphasizing the Authority’s unwavering commitment to road safety and the protection of lives across Lagos.

Members of the public are encouraged to report traffic-related emergencies through LASTMA’s toll-free hotline: 0800 00 527 862. Timely alerts, the Authority noted, can make a critical difference in emergency response and save lives.

LASTMA reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing traffic discipline, strengthening inter-agency collaboration, and deploying enhanced safety strategies to ensure safer roads across the state.