Two people, including a serving police officer, has been killed on Tuesday when a 40-foot container truck overturned and crushed a commercial tricycle at the Ijora Causeway, inward Ijora 7Up, Lagos.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a statement, stating that the accident occurred inward Ijora 7Up, beneath the Ijora Bridge, when a 40-foot container truck with registration number XP 368 AKD lost control and fell onto a commercial tricycle (KJA 364 QN) carrying passengers.

LASTMA said preliminary findings indicate that the articulated vehicle, while attempting a precarious maneuver beneath the Ijora Bridge, lost control and consequently capsized, fatally crushing on to a tricycle in its path.

“The remains of the deceased Police Officer were subsequently conveyed to a morgue at Yaba by security operatives, while grief-stricken relatives of the second victim, a female passenger, hastened to the scene to retrieve the remains of their loved one,” LASTMA stated.

LASTMA said two other victims, including the tricycle operator, were rescued alive but sustained serious injuries, including multiple leg fractures.

It added that the injured victims were taken by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) to Jimsan Hospital in Ijora for emergency treatment.

The incident caused public outrage at the scene, with bystanders attempting to set the overturned truck on fire.
However, a combined team of police officers from the Badia, Trinity, and Kirikiri Divisions intervened to restore order and protect emergency responders during the rescue operation.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, describing the incident as deeply grievous and most regrettable and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

LASTMA urged truck drivers and operators of articulated vehicles to exercise ” the highest degree of caution” particularly when navigating bridges, intersections, and densely trafficked corridors, so as to avert the recurrence of such calamitous incidents.