Four people, including a commercial bus driver, have died, while 13 passengers sustained critical injuries after a truck rammed into a fully loaded bus on Alaro City Bridge in Epe, Lagos State, on Wednesday
Among the injured were market women reportedly travelling to a village market in the area
The identities of the deceased and injured victims could not be ascertained as of press time However, emergency responders said the victims were evacuated to a mortuary and a public health facility in the area.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that the crash occurred on the bridge inward T-Junction, Epe
He said preliminary accounts indicated that the truck rammed into the commercial bus while both vehicles were navigating the single-lane bridge, leaving several victims trapped in the wreckage
According to him, the collision killed four occupants of the commercial bus, including its driver, while 13 other passengers sustained critical injuries
“The truck driver also suffered severe injuries, including the loss of both legs, which became trapped in the wreckage following the impact,” he added
Bakare-Oki said LASTMA operatives, working alongside personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), participated in the rescue and evacuation operations
“The four deceased victims were evacuated to a mortuary, while the Lagos State Ambulance Service transported the 13 injured passengers to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment,” he said
Personnel of the Epe Police Division also provided security at the scene to facilitate rescue operations and protect emergency responders
The LASTMA general manager expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured victims a speedy recovery
He urged motorists to exercise caution and comply with traffic regulations, particularly when driving on bridges, narrow roads and other sections with limited manoeuvring space
He added that LASTMA personnel implemented traffic management measures to ease congestion caused by the crash and restore the free flow of traffic along the affected corridor
Bakare-Oki reiterated the agency’s commitment to road safety and effective collaboration with other emergency response agencies
He urged motorists to maintain safe following distances, observe speed limits and avoid dangerous driving manoeuvres
He also warned that reckless driving on narrow bridges and other constricted roadways could result in fatal accidents