Tragedy struck yesterday on Otedola bridge, Lagos, when a motor boy fell off from a truck and died. It was gathered that the truck that was conveying wheats overturned amidst downpour inward Berger area.
Road users were stranded following the accident that caused heavy traffic that overwhelmed emergency responders and traffic management agencies, including the police.
Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Nigeria Police, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and sister agencies were on ground to perform rescue missions.
LASTMA spokespman , Mr Adebayo Taofiq, quoted Oduyebo Oluwole, ‘Zebra’ (Zone 2), who said the accident caused severe congestion for road users travelling along the 7Up-Berger section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“Priliminary investigation revealed that the truck driver could no longer control the truck after noticing a brake failure while on a top speed under the heavy rain”
“LASTMA Oluwole confirmed that the dead body of the motor boy was recovered under the Otedole bridge and immediately handed over to Lagos Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) by LASTMA officials.
He confirmed further that while the truck was fully recovered off the Otedola Bridge after the completion of trans-loading of wheats into another truck, the blocked side of the Expressway on was totally opened for vehicular movement around 5:30pm.
Other emergency responders at the scene of the accident include LASEMA, SEHMU, Police men from Isheri Police Division and other passersby.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu in his updates, captured the scene saying, “On arrival at the incident scene, it was discovered that a truck with unknown registration number was involved in a solitary accident.
” Further information gathered at the scene revealed that, the truck while descending the hill from Mobil filling station inward OTEDOLA was trying to avoid collusion with another vehicle,lost control and crashed into the side of the bridge.
” The driver compartment was found hanging down the bridge with some of the product (wheat) all over the road blocking the entire route under the bridge inward Otedola estate.
