Traffic stretches to Otedola Bridge after crash at Berger Bus Stop

Five passengers, including three women and two men, were left critically injured yesterday when a 40-foot truck rammed into two commercial buses at Berger Bus Stop, inward Kara Bridge, in the Ojodu area of Lagos State.

The victims, who were travelling in an interstate Mazda bus and a Toyota Hiace bus, were rescued by operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and rushed to the Lagos State Emergency and Trauma Centre at the Toll Gate for urgent medical attention.

The crash occurred when the Howo truck, travelling out of Lagos, collided with the two passenger vehicles, leaving several occupants seriously injured and disrupting traffic along the busy corridor.

LASTMA officials deployed around the Ojodu-Berger axis responded promptly, extricating the injured passengers and coordinating their evacuation from the scene. The five victims included the driver of one of the vehicles.

With assistance from motorists who volunteered to convey the victims, LASTMA officials accompanied the injured passengers to the emergency and trauma centre for immediate medical assessment and treatment.
Security personnel from Isheri Police Station also supported the rescue operation by providing security at the scene.

The collision triggered a massive traffic backlog, with queues stretching to Otedola Bridge as motorists struggled to navigate the affected stretch.

LASTMA operatives subsequently cleared the carriageway of the vehicles involved, including the articulated truck, to prevent further accidents and restore the free flow of traffic.

Traffic officials remained on the road to manage the resulting congestion and gradually ease movement along the corridor.
The vehicles were later handed over to the police for investigation into the circumstances of the crash and possible legal action.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sympathy with the injured passengers and wished them a speedy and full recovery.

He urged motorists to observe road safety regulations and drive responsibly, stressing the need for regular maintenance of heavy-duty vehicles, particularly those operating on major highways.

Bakare-Oki warned that mechanical defects, reckless driving and loss of control could have devastating consequences for motorists and other road users