The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has confirmed the death of five people and five others who were injured in two separate accidents along the Lekki-Epe Expressway on Thursday.
This development was made known through a statement released by the LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, on Thursday.
Taofiq revealed that the first accident happened around the Abijo bus stop when a van collided with a non-moving construction company equipment.
The statement reads, “The first catastrophic incident unfolded during the early hours of the day at the Abijo Bus Stop, precisely under the pedestrian bridge on the inward Epe corridor, where a Mitsubishi pick-up van bearing registration number AKD 733 JM, travelling at an exceedingly perilous speed, lost control and crashed into a stationary Craneburg Construction Company equipment, lawfully parked.
“The colossal impact resulted in the instantaneous death of four occupants (three males and one female) whose bodies were recovered lifeless at the scene of the accident.
“Demonstrating their operational dexterity and swift emergency response capabilities, LASTMA operatives successfully rescued three additional female occupants from the wreckage and handed them over to officers of the Eleko Division of the Nigeria Police Force for onward transfer to nearby medical institutions for urgent care and further evaluation.”
Taofiq noted that the second accident occurred along the Frajend Group area inside Bogjie on the expressway, where an SUV driver crashed into a stationary truck and died immediately after the accident.
The statement read further, “The devastating collision resulted in the immediate death of the SUV driver, while two other passengers, grievously injured and entrapped within the crushed vehicle, were meticulously extricated by LASTMA personnel after a laborious and delicate rescue operation.
“Upon successful recovery, both survivors were immediately placed in the custody of officers from the Elemoro Police Division, who ensured their prompt conveyance to medical facilities for life-saving intervention.”
In view of this, the LASTMA general manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, through Taofiq, expressed condolences to the families of the victims, while urging members of the public to report traffic related emergencies through LASTMA’s toll-free hotline: 080 000 527 862.
Bakare-Oki said, “We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families during this moment of unspeakable loss and anguish. It is our earnest prayer that the Almighty grant them the strength to bear these irreparable losses.
“These deeply saddening occurrences serve as grim reminders of the catastrophic consequences that stem from the wilful violation of established speed regulations.
“The Lagos State Government has made substantial investments in traffic control infrastructure, ranging from road signage and speed limiters to high-visibility furniture, to mitigate such disasters.”
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