Tragedy struck in the Ijora area of Lagos State on Tuesday after a 40-foot container truck crushed a tricycle, killing a woman and a police officer on board.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, in a statement by its spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, said the accident occurred along Ijora Causeway, inward Ijora 7Up.

Mr Taofiq said the truck, with registration number XP 368 AKD, lost control and fell on the tricycle. He said the rider and another passenger on board were, however, rescued with severe injuries and have been taken to a medical facility.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the articulated vehicle, while attempting a precarious maneuver beneath the Ijora Bridge, lost control and consequently capsized, fatally crushing a tricycle in its path. Regrettably, two passengers, among them a serving police officer, were killed instantly,” Mr Taofiq said.

He stated that security operatives have conveyed the remains of the deceased police officer to a morgue at Yaba, while the relatives of the late female passenger have retrieved her remains.

“The injured were expeditiously transported by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) to Jimsan Hospital, Gasikiya, Ijora, for urgent medical intervention,” Mr Taofiq added.

He said combined detachments of security personnel drawn from Badia, Trinity, and Kirikiri Police Divisions prevented onlookers from setting the truck ablaze and safeguarded the emergency responders throughout the rescue operations.

LASTMA general manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed his condolences to the bereaved families of the late police officer and the deceased female passenger.