Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority have apprehended a truck driver following a multiple-vehicle crash that critically injured four persons.

The LASTMA chief, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. Mr Bakare-Oki said the crash occurred at First Gate, inward Mile 2, and involved a Mack truck conveying a fully laden 40-foot container.

He said the crash also involved another truck conveying a 20-foot container, a T4 commercial bus with registration number AAA 723 YF and nine commercial motorcyclists.

“Security preliminary findings indicate that the collision was precipitated by an apparent brake failure suffered by the Mack truck. This resulted in a loss of braking control and a subsequent violent impact with the 20-foot container, commercial bus and the nine commercial motorcyclists in a devastating chain-reaction collision,” he said.

Mr Bakare-Oki said four victims, comprising three males and a female, sustained critical injuries, including multiple fractures to their arms and legs. He said the severity of the injuries necessitated immediate rescue operations and urgent medical attention.

The LASTMA boss explained that LASTMA personnel conducting routine traffic management operations in the area promptly responded to the incident. He said the officers immediately commenced emergency traffic control, rescue and incident-management operations.

“The injured victims were successfully extricated from the accident scene by LASTMA officers and subsequently handed over to security personnel from the Roro Police Division. The victims were immediately conveyed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment,” he said.

The LASTMA boss said the driver of the fully laden Mack truck and other drivers involved in the crash were handed over to the police for investigation and possible prosecution.

Mr Bakare-Oki expressed concern over the continued operation of commercial motorcycles on restricted highways, particularly heavily trafficked corridors. He said the vulnerability of motorcycle operators in interactions with articulated and other heavy-duty vehicles could aggravate the consequences of road crashes.

He urged motorists, commercial transport operators and other road users to exercise caution and comply with prescribed traffic regulations and advised vehicle owners and operators to ensure regular and comprehensive mechanical inspections before deploying their vehicles on the roads.

(NAN)