NIGERIA: One Dies as Fully Loaded Truck Overturns in Lagos State

One person has died after a fully loaded truck overturned around the TREM axis of Gbagada, inward Oshodi, Lagos State, on Sunday.

The accident involved a Mercedes-Benz six-tyre truck conveying assorted goods, including sealed bags and newly branded event chairs.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority disclosed this in a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq.

According to LASTMA, preliminary findings indicated that the truck was travelling at considerable speed when its front tyre suddenly burst, causing the driver to lose control and the vehicle to overturn.

The agency said an elderly male passenger seated in the front cabin was thrown out of the truck during the incident and hit his head against a sharp object.

“The impact proved fatal, resulting in his instantaneous death,” the statement said.

LASTMA added that its Night Rescue Team, which was conducting surveillance across major traffic corridors in the state, promptly arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area.

The operatives evacuated the deceased from the carriageway into a Lagos State Emergency Medical Services ambulance to prevent further exposure and possible secondary accidents.

Personnel of the Pedro Police Division and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also supported the rescue operation.

The authority explained that the overturned truck could not be immediately recovered because of the volume and nature of its cargo. It said arrangements were being made to transfer the goods into another truck before removing the vehicle.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased, describing the incident as a painful and avoidable loss.

He cautioned heavy-duty vehicle operators against excessive speeding, warning that it reduces reaction time, affects vehicle stability and increases the severity of road accidents.

Bakare-Oki said the consequences of the crash could have been less severe if the truck had been travelling at a controlled speed, despite the sudden tyre burst.

He urged heavy-duty vehicle operators, commercial transporters and other motorists to practise responsible driving, conduct regular vehicle inspections and pay attention to the condition of their tyres, braking systems and other critical components before embarking on journeys.

The LASTMA boss also advised drivers to remain calm and apply proper vehicle-control techniques when confronted with sudden mechanical failures.

He stressed that roadworthiness, moderate speed and compliance with traffic regulations were essential to preventing accidents, particularly on densely populated urban highways.

Bakare-Oki reaffirmed the agency's commitment to traffic surveillance, emergency response and collaboration with other agencies to protect lives across Lagos State.