Lagos Road Accident Claims Two Lives
A tragic road accident in Lagos on Thursday morning has resulted in the deaths of two individuals: a motor park tout and a lorry driver, following an alleged extortion attempt at Cele Bus Stop.
The horrific incident unfolded during the early hours of Thursday at Cele Bus Stop on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway. A motor park tout, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, reportedly stepped into the path of an oncoming lorry in an apparent attempt to extort money from the driver. Witnesses recounted that the driver of the first lorry, marked T-392 LA, briefly halted in the middle of the road while attempting to negotiate with the tout.
Details of the Fatal Collision
Tragically, another lorry, travelling at high speed and unable to stop in time, collided with the stationary vehicle. This impact crushed the tout beneath it, and the driver of the first lorry became trapped behind the steering wheel. Bystanders quickly rushed to the scene to assist, describing the situation as chaotic amidst the wreckage.
Despite the swift rescue efforts by emergency responders, the trapped driver was pronounced dead at the site of the collision. The General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed the incident, detailing that the crash involved two fully laden 40-foot containerised lorries along the Cele inward axis of the Oshodi–Apapa Expressway, near Mile 2, Lagos.
Investigation and Recovery Efforts
Bakare-Oki further stated that the tragic incident resulted in two fatalities. One of the deceased was identified as the driver of one of the lorries, while the other was described as a suspected miscreant whose identity could not be immediately established during the initial response. "The collision left the deceased driver entrapped within the steering compartment of his lorry, thereby necessitating painstaking technical extrication by operatives of the Authority’s Rescue and Recovery Team," he explained.
LASTMA personnel conducted meticulous rescue procedures to retrieve the driver’s remains. The lifeless body of the suspected miscreant was carefully evacuated from beneath one of the lorries after an intensive search and recovery exercise, carried out under rigorous safety protocols. The operation was executed in seamless synergy with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), whose specialised technical intervention proved invaluable. Security reinforcement was provided by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Ilasa Police Division, ensuring effective perimeter control at the scene.
Officials from the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit promptly evacuated the remains of both victims upon notification by LASTMA. Upon the conclusion of on-site operations, LASTMA formally handed over the incident to officers of the Ilasa Police Division, who are now statutorily mandated to investigate and determine the immediate and remote causes of the occurrence.
The General Manager extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, characterising the incident as a sobering reminder of the inherent risks associated with high-density freight corridors in Lagos.