Three-member family dies in multi-vehicle crash on Lagos–Ibadan Expressway

Three-member family dies in multi-vehicle crash on Lagos–Ibadan Expressway

Three members of the same family have died in a tragic multi-vehicle collision that occurred in the early hours of today at Secretariat inward Otedola Bridge along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed that the victims—father, mother and their young child—lost their lives on the spot, while two other persons sustained critical injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.

According to preliminary investigations, the accident involved three vehicles—an Audi, a Toyota Camry and a Toyota Corolla—and was triggered by a heavily loaded truck allegedly travelling at excessive speed. The truck reportedly rammed into one of the vehicles from behind, causing it to lose control and crash into two other moving vehicles, resulting in a fatal chain-reaction collision.

In a disturbing development, the driver of the truck allegedly fled the scene immediately after the crash with the vehicle, abandoning the victims and evading responsibility.

LASTMA operatives arrived promptly at the scene and coordinated rescue efforts with other emergency agencies. Two victims who were critically injured and trapped in the wreckage were successfully extricated and transported by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) to the Lagos State Emergency and Trauma Centre, Toll Gate, for urgent medical care.

The bodies of the three deceased family members, who were found trapped together, were respectfully recovered and handed over to the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) for evacuation.

Security personnel from the Isheri Olowora Police Division provided protection and operational support, while LASTMA officials cleared the accidented vehicles from the carriageway to prevent secondary crashes.

Other agencies involved in the multi-agency emergency response included the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), LASAMBUS, SEHMU and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.

Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep sorrow over what he described as the “unbearable and irreplaceable loss of an entire family.” He offered prayers for divine comfort for the bereaved relatives and wished the injured victims a speedy and full recovery.

Mr. Bakare-Oki lamented the preventable nature of the crash and reiterated LASTMA’s warning against reckless driving, particularly by operators of articulated and heavily loaded trucks. He stressed that excessive speed remains one of the leading causes of road fatalities and urged motorists to obey speed limits and practise defensive driving.

He further assured residents that LASTMA remains committed to strengthening traffic surveillance, enforcing road safety regulations and working closely with security and emergency agencies to prevent similar tragedies in the future.