Police Officer, One Other Killed As Container-Laden Truck Crushes Tricycle In Lagos

A tragic accident in Lagos on Tuesday claimed the lives of a police officer and a passenger after a 40-foot container truck toppled onto a tricycle.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said the truck, with registration number XP 368 AKD, lost control while attempting a risky turn under the Ijora Bridge and overturned, crushing the tricycle with number plate KJA 364 QN.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed the incident in a statement, explaining that the crash happened along Ijora Causeway, inward Ijora Seven-Up.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the articulated vehicle, while attempting a precarious maneuver beneath the Ijora Bridge, lost control and consequently capsized, fatally crushing a tricycle with registration number KJA 364 QN.

“Regrettably, two passengers, a serving police officer included, were killed instantly.

“The remains of the deceased police officer was subsequently conveyed to a morgue at Yaba by security operatives, while relatives of the second victim, a female passenger, hastened to the scene to retrieve the remains of their loved one,” he said.

Bakare-Oki noted that two others, including the tricycle rider, were rescued alive but with serious leg injuries.

According to him, the victims were quickly taken to Jimsan Hospital in Ijora by the Lagos State Ambulance Service for emergency treatment.

“To avert a descent into chaos, combined detachments of security personnel drawn from Badia, Trinity, and Kirikiri Police Divisions established robust security cordons,” he said.

“Their decisive presence pacified irate onlookers, who had attempted to set the containerised truck ablaze, and safeguarded the emergency responders throughout the duration of the rescue operations.”

Bakare-Oki described the incident as a painful loss and sent condolences to the families of the victims. He also wished the survivors a quick recovery.

He praised the prompt response of emergency teams and security personnel, noting that their efforts prevented more deaths and kept the situation under control.

LASTMA urged truck drivers to be extremely careful when driving under bridges, through intersections, or on busy roads to avoid such disasters in the future.

“The authority reiterated its earnest admonition to truck operators and articulated vehicle drivers to exercise the highest degree of caution, particularly when negotiating bridges, intersections, and densely trafficked corridors. This is to avert the recurrence of such calamitous incidents,” he said.

Meanwhile, the police recently arrested one Abdullahi Saliu for allegedly posing as a Nigerian Army colonel to defraud unsuspecting victims of N1.377 million in a fake job recruitment scheme in Ondo.