Tragedy struck at Ita Oluwo, a community on the Lagos-Ogun border, when a speeding truck with faulty brakes rammed into a stationary truck, crushing a woman to death.
The accident, which happened on Saturday, involved two Iveco trucks loaded with iron rods. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said one of the trucks, while speeding, suffered brake failure and crashed into the other, trapping the woman in between.
Emergency responders, including LASTMA officials, firefighters, the police, and local safety corps, worked together to remove the victim’s body from the wreckage. She was taken to the Ogun State University Teaching Hospital mortuary in Sagamu.
LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the crash and said the trucks bore registration numbers QX 189 KSF and YA 701 AAA.
The agency’s General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, blamed the accident on reckless driving and poor vehicle maintenance. He said the crash could have been avoided if the truck had been properly checked and maintained.
“This terrible loss of life is a result of carelessness and mechanical failure,” he said. “Trucks carrying heavy goods must follow road safety rules. Many of these tragedies can be prevented.”
Bakare-Oki called on haulage companies to regularly inspect their vehicles and ensure their drivers are qualified and medically fit. He warned that operating trucks without proper safety checks is dangerous and unacceptable.
The incident has again raised concerns over the safety of roads shared by heavy-duty vehicles and everyday commuters, especially in border communities between Lagos and Ogun States.
