A man sustained serious injuries on Saturday after a six-tyre truck lost control and plunged off the Oshodi Bridge in Lagos.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority confirmed that the accident occurred when the truck, which was loaded with toner printing materials, suffered a brake failure while descending the Oshodi-Oke bridge inward Mile 2 and fell into the terminal ditch below.
According to a statement signed by the Director of the Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the incident was promptly managed by the agency’s operatives to prevent further casualties and traffic congestion.
“In an exemplary display of operational precision, LASTMA operatives rescued a severely injured male victim following a ghastly accident involving a fully loaded six-tyre truck that lost its brakes and plunged off the Oshodi Bridge,” Taofiq said.
He explained that officers at the scene quickly commenced rescue operations upon arrival.
“The injured victim was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention, while the driver of the truck was handed over to security personnel from the Makinde Police Station, Oshodi, for further investigation,” he added.
Taofiq noted that the accident could have resulted in multiple casualties if not for the prompt and coordinated response by LASTMA officers who diverted traffic and cleared the wreckage to restore order.
“To prevent secondary collisions and ensure safety, our operatives cordoned off the scene, diverted traffic, and supervised the clearance operation, which helped restore normal movement in record time,” he stated.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bakare Oki, commended the officers for their professionalism and swift response.
“LASTMA remains committed to safeguarding lives and property on Lagos roads, especially during the ember months when road accidents tend to increase,” Oki said.
He further disclosed that the agency had strategically deployed heavy-duty recovery vehicles and over 2,700 personnel across the state’s five administrative divisions for rapid emergency response.
Oki also urged motorists to ensure proper vehicle maintenance and compliance with traffic regulations to reduce the risk of avoidable accidents.
“LASTMA will continue to prioritize proactive traffic control, timely rescue operations, and public enlightenment to make Lagos roads safer for everyone,” he added.
The Oshodi area, which connects major transport routes including the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, frequently experiences gridlocks due to heavy-duty trucks and cargo vehicles. Mechanical faults such as brake failures and tyre bursts remain leading causes of road accidents in Nigeria, with the Federal Road Safety Corps attributing about 10 percent of crashes nationwide to vehicle defects.
