The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority says a driver and one other person died in a midnight collision involving two trucks along Cele inward Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos.

The general manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Bakare-Oki said the fatal impact claimed the life of one of the truck (T-392 LA) drivers and another whose presence within the operational perimeter of the articulated vehicles could not be immediately established at the time of response.

“The ferocity of the collision left the deceased driver severely entrapped within the steering compartment of his truck, thereby necessitating painstaking extrication by operatives of the authority’s rescue and recovery team.

“LASTMA personnel undertook meticulous rescue procedures to retrieve the driver’s remains, while the lifeless body of the miscreant was evacuated from beneath one of the trucks following an intensive search and recovery exercise.

“The operation was conducted in seamless operational synergy with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), whose specialised technical intervention proved indispensable in facilitating the complex recovery undertaking,” he said.

He said that security reinforcement was simultaneously provided by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Ilasa Police Division, ensuring effective perimeter control and the preservation of evidentiary integrity at the scene.

“Further exemplifying robust inter-agency collaboration, the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) promptly evacuated the remains of both victims upon notification by LASTMA. This enabled the progression of recovery activities and the gradual restoration of vehicular flow along the strategically vital logistics corridor.

“Upon the conclusion of on-site operations, LASTMA formally handed over the incident to officers of the Ilasa Police Division, whose statutory mandate encompasses conducting a comprehensive investigation to determine the immediate and remote causes of the tragic occurrence,” he said.

Mr Bakare-Oki described the incident as a sobering testament to the inherent vulnerabilities associated with high-density freight corridors. He reiterated the authority’s sustained advocacy for disciplined, responsible driving.

The LASTMA boss urged operators of articulated vehicles to remain perpetually safety-conscious, adhere strictly to prescribed speed thresholds and comply with all regulatory frameworks instituted by the government to safeguard lives and property.

(NAN)