A newly wedded couple who were returning from the Ikoyi Marriage Registry alongside 16 other passengers escaped death following a multi-vehicle accident on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos State, on Saturday.
Adebayo Taofiq, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, affirmed this in a statement on Saturday.
According to Taofiq, a mini truck and an LT bus crashed after the bus’s brakes failed while it was moving quickly.
According to reports, both vehicles’ occupants suffered fractured limbs and other injuries to varied degrees as a result of the impact of the accident.
Taofiq identified the vehicles involved as a minitruck with number plate AGL 22 YE and a commercial LT bus with number plate BFG 204 XF.
Taofiq said, “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, in collaboration with emergency response agencies, today orchestrated the successful rescue of 18 individuals involved in a serious vehicular collision on the Third Mainland Bridge, near Ilaje, heading towards Iyana Oworonsoki.
“Among the victims were a newlywed couple returning to the mainland from the Ikoyi Marriage Registry.
“The accident, which involved a mini truck (AGL 22 YE) and a commercial LT bus (BFG 204 XF), was attributed to a brake failure on the LT bus, which was travelling at excessive speed. The bus collided with the minitruck, which was moving slowly due to mechanical difficulties.
“A total of 16 passengers seated in the rear of the LT bus, 11 women and 5 men, sustained significant injuries and were swiftly transported to the Lagos State Trauma and Emergency Centre near the Toll Gate on the Lagos-Ibadan Motorway for urgent medical care.”
He added that two of the victims who were trapped in the wreckage of the LT bus suffered severe injuries after they “were extricated with the combined efforts of LASTMA personnel, emergency responders, and concerned bystanders. These victims were later rushed to Gbagada General Hospital for specialised treatment.”
Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the general manager of LASTMA, responded to the tragedy by expressing condolences for the people who were hurt and reminding drivers to always drive carefully on the highway to avoid accidents.
Speaking through Taofiq, Bakare-Oki emphasised that the goal of the LASTMA’s Female Elite Corps’ continuous education is to increase road safety in Lagos before the celebration.
“Expressing deep sympathy for the injured, LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, wished them a speedy recovery. He also underscored the importance of observing speed limits and maintaining vehicles in optimal condition, particularly the braking system, to prevent such tragedies.
“Mr. Bakare-Oki further highlighted the intensified public enlightenment campaigns led by LASTMA’s Female Elite Corps, which aim to educate motorists—especially commercial bus operators—on safe driving practices before, during, and beyond the festive season,” Taofiq stated.
