One dies, five injured as truck suffers brake failure in Lagos

At least one person has been confirmed dead, and five others injured, after a truck lost control and overturned at Cele, along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos State on Saturday.

According to reports, the truck suffered a brake failure, causing the driver to lose control before the vehicle tipped over, colliding with seven other vehicles.

The identity of the deceased remains unknown.

The vehicles involved in the incident included five commercial buses, a privately-owned Toyota Camry, and a Toyota Sienna.

In a video online, passersby and emergency responders were seen working to rescue victims trapped in the wreckage.

Confirming the incident, Adebayo Taofiq, spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), explained that the truck was speeding when it experienced the brake failure.

“Preliminary findings from on-site investigations indicate that the heavy-duty truck, which was transporting two large containers, experienced a catastrophic brake failure while traveling at excessive speed. The resulting loss of control caused the containers to dislodge, collapsing onto five commercial buses and two private vehicles, leading to significant structural damage and multiple casualties,” said Taofiq.

“One of the commercial bus drivers sustained multiple compound fractures to both his arm and leg, while the remaining injured were promptly evacuated by LASAMBUS to the General Hospital in Isolo for immediate treatment,” Taofiq added in a statement.

Reacting to the tragedy, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

He highlighted the importance of regular mechanical checks for articulated vehicles, particularly those carrying containerized cargo, and urged motorists to comply with speed limits and adhere to traffic regulations to ensure safety on public roads.