By Bose Adelaja
CITIZENS COMPASS —A truck driver and his motor boy were injuted on Sunday, January 7, 2024, as their truck accidentally fell off a bridge while on motion, in Lagos State.
Both were rescued by men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) who were on duty at Ijira-Olopa Inward Apapa, the scene of the accident.
According to LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq who confirmed the accident in a statement, it involved an empty articulated 40ft flatbed truck that fell off from the high bridge inward Apapa.
He said the incident occurred while the truck was on top speed climbing the high bridge directly opposite ‘Sifax’ Company by Ijora ‘Olopa’ inward Apapa. He said, “The injured driver was rescued by LASTMA personnel in a pool of blood gushing out from his head while the motor boy sustained serious waist fracture by his spinal cord.”
Speaking about the cause of the accident, he said, “A preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the articulated 40ft empty flatbed truck lost total control due to brake failure while struggling a ‘Right of Way’ (R.O.W) with another fully loaded truck trying to climb the High Bridge inward Apapa.
“Immediately the unfortunate incident happened, other articulated truck drivers around ‘Sifax’ Company supported LASTMA personnel and rescued both the driver and motor boy who were trapped under the truck.
LASTMA Goriola Jimoh ‘Zebra’ (Zone 22) Apapa, who led the rescue operations confirmed that the rescued injured driver and his motor boy were rushed to the General Hospital at Apapa for immediate medical treatment.
“The crashed articulated truck was evacuated by officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit (LRU) while LASTMA personnel handed over the case to Policemen from Ijora – Badia Police Station for further investigation.
“LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Bakare Oki, however appealed to owners of articulated trucks to always carry out periodic safety training and enlightenment campaigns for their drivers on the need to obey road signs speed limit while driving on highways within and outside the State.”
