Four Dead, 13 Critically Injured In Truck-Bus Collision On Epe Bridge
Four people, including a commercial bus driver, have died, while 13 passengers sustained critical injuries in a fatal collision involving a truck and a fully loaded commercial bus on Alaro City Bridge, inward T-Junction, Epe, Lagos State.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), which confirmed the incident in a statement, said the crash occurred when the truck rammed into the commercial bus while both vehicles were navigating the single-lane bridge.
The impact reportedly left several victims trapped in the wreckage of the two vehicles, necessitating an emergency rescue operation by traffic management and other emergency response agencies.
According to LASTMA, the four victims died at the scene, while the truck driver sustained severe injuries, including the traumatic severance of both legs, which became trapped in the mangled wreckage.
Following the collision, LASTMA operatives, in collaboration with personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), coordinated rescue efforts and evacuated the bodies of the deceased to the mortuary.
The Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) also responded promptly, conveying the 13 critically injured passengers to the nearest medical facility for urgent treatment.
Security personnel from the Epe Police Division provided security support throughout the rescue operation, helping to ensure the safety of emergency responders and the orderly management of the accident scene.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and described the loss of lives as deeply distressing.
He also sympathised with the bereaved families and wished the injured victims a speedy and complete recovery.
Bakare-Oki called on motorists to exercise greater caution and demonstrate responsible driving, particularly when approaching bridges, narrow carriageways and other road sections where limited space increases the risk of serious collisions.
He emphasised the need for strict compliance with traffic regulations, including prescribed speed limits and safe following distances, warning that reckless driving could result in devastating consequences.
Meanwhile, LASTMA personnel deployed to the affected corridor implemented traffic management measures to ease congestion caused by the crash and restore normal vehicular movement.
The officers worked to manage the resulting traffic backlog and facilitate the orderly movement of vehicles along the affected route.
The authority reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives, promoting road safety and improving emergency response through collaboration with relevant security agencies and emergency management organisations.
It urged motorists to avoid dangerous driving manoeuvres and exercise maximum caution on bridges and other constricted roadways, stressing that a moment of negligence could lead to irreversible loss of lives.
