One person has died while six others sustained injuries in a road accident that occurred early Sunday morning along the busy Oworonsoki–Apapa Expressway in Lagos State.
The accident took place near Castle Bus Stop inward Gbagada and involved a commercial bus and an articulated truck.
Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident and said emergency responders quickly moved to the scene to assist victims and manage traffic.
According to authorities, the victim who died was an unidentified female passenger who was thrown onto the expressway during the crash.
The spokesperson for LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, explained the circumstances surrounding the accident in a statement released on Sunday.
According to him, the crash occurred when a Volkswagen commercial bus travelling along the expressway suddenly lost control.
The vehicle reportedly veered off its lane and crashed into a roadside culvert.
The impact of the collision was strong enough to eject one of the passengers from the vehicle onto the expressway.
“The impact forcefully ejected a female passenger onto the expressway,” Taofiq said.
Moments later, an oncoming articulated trailer travelling along the road could not avoid the passenger lying on the roadway.
The trailer ran over the woman, resulting in her immediate death.
Authorities said the deceased had not yet been identified at the time of the report.
Apart from the woman who died, six other occupants of the bus sustained serious injuries in the accident.
Those injured included the driver of the commercial bus.
Officials said the victims suffered various degrees of injuries, including multiple fractures.
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene to assist the injured passengers.
Personnel from the Lagos State Ambulance Service transported the victims to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment.
Medical workers are currently attending to the injured victims, while authorities continue efforts to determine the identity of the deceased woman.
According to officials, the driver of the articulated trailer involved in the incident fled the scene shortly after the accident occurred.
Authorities did not immediately provide details about the driver’s identity.
However, investigations are ongoing to locate the driver and determine the circumstances that led to the crash.
Security officers from the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Pedro Police Division assisted in managing the situation at the accident scene.
They helped maintain order while emergency workers carried out rescue operations and traffic control.
LASTMA operatives quickly activated emergency traffic management procedures to prevent further accidents along the busy highway.
Officials temporarily cordoned off part of the expressway to allow rescue teams to evacuate victims and remove the damaged vehicle.
Emergency workers also worked to clear debris from the road to restore normal traffic flow.
Taofiq said traffic officials coordinated with other agencies to ensure the rescue operation was carried out safely.
After the evacuation of the victims and the removal of the wreckage, the road was reopened to motorists.
“Following the successful evacuation, LASTMA operatives cleared the corridor and restored normal traffic flow,” he said.
Personnel from the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit later arrived at the scene to remove the body of the deceased woman.
The body was taken away for further procedures, while authorities continued their investigation into the incident.
Officials say efforts are ongoing to identify the victim and contact her family.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sympathy to the family of the deceased passenger.
He described the accident as tragic and urged motorists to exercise caution while driving.
Bakare-Oki also wished the injured passengers a quick recovery.
He said road users must always observe traffic rules and maintain safe driving practices to prevent accidents.
Road accidents remain a serious concern in Lagos, Nigeria’s most populous city.
The city has a large number of vehicles using its roads daily, including commercial buses, trucks, motorcycles and private cars.
Major highways such as the Oworonsoki–Apapa Expressway serve as important routes for commuters and transport operators moving between different parts of the city.
Heavy traffic, reckless driving, poor vehicle maintenance and speeding are among the common causes of accidents on Lagos roads.
Commercial buses, popularly known as “danfo,” are widely used by commuters across the city.
However, they are sometimes involved in road accidents due to overcrowding, mechanical faults or unsafe driving practices.
The Lagos State government established LASTMA to help improve traffic management and road safety across the state.
The agency is responsible for regulating traffic flow, responding to road incidents, and assisting motorists during emergencies.
Over the years, LASTMA officials have played a key role in coordinating rescue efforts during road accidents and managing traffic in busy parts of the city.
In addition to traffic control, the agency works with other emergency services such as ambulance teams, police officers and environmental health workers.
Together, these agencies help ensure that accident victims receive quick assistance and that traffic disruptions are minimised.
Transport experts say accidents involving commercial buses and heavy-duty trucks are common on major highways.
Large vehicles such as trailers require longer braking distances and may struggle to stop quickly in emergency situations.
When passengers are thrown onto the road during crashes, the risk of fatal injuries becomes extremely high.
Passengers are also encouraged to use safe transportation and avoid boarding vehicles that appear overloaded or poorly maintained.
Authorities say investigations into Sunday’s accident are still ongoing.
Officials are expected to review the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the condition of the vehicles and the actions of the drivers involved.
The police may also seek to locate the driver of the trailer who fled the scene.
Meanwhile, traffic authorities have urged motorists to drive responsibly and remain alert while using busy highways in Lagos.
They also advised drivers to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on journeys.
