Tragedy struck on the Lekki-Epe Expressway on Wednesday as two separate crashes claimed five lives and left five others severely injured.
A statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed both incidents, attributing them to excessive speeding and reckless driving.
The first crash occurred in the early hours of the day at Abijo Bus Stop, inward Epe, beneath the pedestrian bridge. A Mitsubishi pick-up van lost control while travelling at high speed and rammed into a Construction Company truck. Four occupants including three men and one woman died on the spot.
LASTMA officers rescued three female passengers from the wreckage. They were stabilised at the scene and handed over to the Eleko Police Division for urgent medical attention.
In a separate incident, a Toyota Escort SUV travelling at high speed collided with a stationary truck near the Frajend Group area, inward Bogije. The driver of the SUV died instantly, while two other passengers sustained serious injuries and were trapped inside the vehicle.
LASTMA personnel, in a painstaking rescue operation, extricated the injured victims and transferred them to the care of officers from the Elemoro Police Division, who facilitated their immediate evacuation to the hospital.
Meanwhile, the General Manager of the Agency, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep sorrow over the fatal accidents and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
Bakare-Oki also commended the professionalism and quick response of LASTMA rescue teams, emphasizing the Authority’s unwavering commitment to road safety and the protection of lives across Lagos.
