Tragedy was averted yesterday morning, when a 40ft truck suddenly fell off the Apapa bridge, injuring the driver and his motor boy. Although the cause of the accident was not known, emergency officials said it might not be unconnected with overspending.
Director of Public Affairs (Enlightenment Department), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Taofiq Adebayo, said operatives of the agency were on hand to salvage the situation.
He said: “Operatives of LASTMA, this morning, rescued a seriously injured driver and a motor boy from an empty articulated 40ft flatbed truck that fell off from the high bridge, inward Apapa.
“The incident happened while the over speeding truck was climbing the high bridge directly opposite Sifax Company, by Ijora Olopa, inward Apapa.
“The injured driver was rescued by LASTMA personnel in a pool of blood gushing from his head while the motor boy sustained a serious fracture in his spinal cord.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the articulated 40ft empty flatbed truck lost total control due to a brake failure while contesting the right of way with another fully loaded truck trying to climb the 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.
“The rescued injured driver and his motor boy were rushed to the General Hospital in Apapa for immediate medical treatment.”
“The crashed articulated truck was evacuated by officials of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit (LRU), while LASTMA personnel handed over the case to officers at the Ijora-Badia police station for further investigation.”
