By our reporter
An auto crash at Ilubirin, inward Sura,along the iconic Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, South-West Nigeria, early this morning claimed one life while four persons were rescued alive.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the figures.
Sources said the accident came following a collision involving a J5 Ford bus with registration No: FKJ 724 YC, loaded with pepper and other perishable items, and a Mercedes Benz truck with registration No: FKJ 746 YC.
A statement by LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, said that with the support of public-spirited bystanders, the agency’s officials extricated four victims from the crash wreckage.
Taofiq stated: “Tragically, one individual, trapped inside the J5 Ford bus laden with pepper and other perishable goods, succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.”
According to him, preliminary findings indicated that the Ford bus experienced brake failure while on high speed, leading to a collision with the truck.
The director added: “All survivors were swiftly transported to the General Hospital on Lagos Island for immediate medical attention.
“In a coordinated effort to restore normalcy, LASTMA’s rescue team efficiently cleared the accident site, removing the vehicles and spilled perishable goods to ensure the free flow of traffic along the bridge.”
Extending the heartfelt condolences of LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, to the bereaved, Taofiq said he (Bakare-Oki) stressed the critical importance of road safety, particularly during this festive season.
Bakare-Oki also pleaded with drivers, especially operators of heavy-duty vehicles, to avoid excessive speeding and ensure that their vehicles’ parts, such as the brakes, are in perfect working condition before any journeys.
