Two Dead in Fatal Accidents on Lagos and Ogun Highways
Two lives were lost in separate accidents on Wednesday along the Lagos-Ibadan and Lagos-Abeokuta expressways, adding to the rising number of road fatalities in the region.
On the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a driver of a minibus, popularly known as “Korope,” died after his vehicle rammed into a moving truck near the secretariat area. Meanwhile, a pedestrian was fatally struck by a wrong-way driver along the Ifo axis of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, linked the Lagos-Ibadan accident to brake failure and excessive speeding.
He explained, “The unfortunate incident involved a minibus, commonly referred to as ‘Korope,’ which collided with a moving long truck due to brake failure resulting from excessive speeding.
“The severe impact left the driver of the minibus trapped within the wreckage. However, the swift and coordinated intervention of LASTMA officers ensured the immediate rescue of other passengers, all of whom emerged unscathed.
“In a collaborative effort, LASTMA officers, alongside LASAMBUS personnel and FRSC officials, worked relentlessly to extricate the trapped driver. Regrettably, despite their commendable efforts, the driver was recovered lifeless. His remains were subsequently handed over to FRSC personnel by LASTMA officers.”
In a separate incident, a wrong-way driver struck and killed a pedestrian attempting to cross the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. Babatunde Akinbiyi, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), confirmed the accident.
“A fatal accident at Royal Inbound Abeokuta on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway involved a pedestrian knocked down at the accident spot as he was trying to cross the road,” Akinbiyi said.
“The victim was taken to the Ifo state morgue before our arrival by the FRSC, while TRACE and Papa are on the ground to move the truck away from the road to police custody for further investigation.”
Both accidents underscore the dangers of reckless driving and non-compliance with traffic laws. Authorities have reiterated calls for stricter adherence to safety regulations to prevent further tragedies.