A tragic road accident on Wednesday claimed the lives of a father, mother and their young child along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, inward Otedola Bridge, near the Secretariat bus stop in Lagos.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq.
According to LASTMA, the fatal crash occurred during a multi-vehicle collision involving three cars an Audi, Toyota Camry and Toyota Corolla after a speeding, heavily loaded truck rammed into one of the vehicles from the rear.
The impact caused a chain reaction, forcing the hit vehicle into two others and instantly killing the family of three.
Two other occupants from the affected vehicles sustained critical injuries.
Taofiq revealed that the truck driver fled the scene with his vehicle, abandoning the victims and evading arrest.
Emergency responders from LASTMA, LASEMA, LASAMBUS, SEHMU, FRSC and the Lagos Fire & Rescue Service arrived promptly to rescue survivors and recover the bodies.
Two critically injured victims were extricated from the wrecked vehicles and taken to the Lagos State Emergency and Trauma Centre at the Toll Gate.
The remains of the deceased family were handed over to officials of the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU).
LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the deaths as an “unbearable and irreplaceable loss,” offering condolences to the grieving family and praying for the swift recovery of the injured.
Bakare-Oki lamented that the tragedy was preventable, warning once again against reckless speeding, particularly by truck drivers.
He emphasised that excessive speed remains a leading cause of fatal road crashes in Lagos and urged motorists to adopt safer driving habits.
He added that LASTMA would continue to strengthen traffic surveillance and enforce safety regulations to prevent similar incidents.