A speeding truck with faulty brakes crashed into another truck at Ita Oluwo, a community on the Lagos-Ogun State border, resulting in the death of a woman who was trapped and crushed between the two vehicles.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq.
According to the agency, the crash involved two Iveco trucks loaded with iron rods, bearing registration numbers QX 189 KSF and YA 701 AAA. The accident reportedly stemmed from a mechanical failure, as one of the trucks experienced brake failure while speeding and collided with a stationary truck, trapping the woman between both vehicles.
Emergency responders promptly extricated the victim from the wreckage and transported her to the Ogun State University Teaching Hospital morgue in Sagamu.
LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condemned the incident, attributing it to preventable mechanical negligence and recklessness on the part of the driver.
“This appalling tragedy highlights the urgent necessity for unyielding compliance with road safety protocols, particularly for operators of articulated trucks conveying hazardous and high-density cargo.
“It is particularly disheartening that incidents of this nature, which are avoidable through due diligence and professional discipline, persist due to mechanical neglect and irresponsible speeding,” he said.
Bakare-Oki expressed concern over the recurrence of such avoidable tragedies and urged haulage companies to implement routine mechanical inspections and ensure drivers meet strict certification and health standards.
“Operating heavy-duty vehicles without proper maintenance and safety compliance is a serious threat to public safety. Roadworthiness checks must be non-negotiable,” he added.
The rescue operation was a coordinated effort involving LASTMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and the Nigeria Police Force.
