Two persons have been confirmed dead while three others sustained critical injuries in a multiple-vehicle crash involving a truck, a commercial mini-bus and tricycles at Iyana Meiran, along inward Meiran Road in Lagos.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority said the accident occurred near the Primary Health Centre in Meiran after a Dangote Silo Mixer Truck reportedly lost control as a result of brake failure while moving at high speed.
LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed that the out-of-control truck rammed into a commercial mini-bus, popularly known as korope, with registration number EPP 541 YF, as well as four commercial tricycles bearing registration numbers KTU 360 QN, LND 444 QL, LSR 444 QN and EKY 122 QP.
The impact of the collision caused extensive damage to the vehicles, leaving several commuters trapped amid wreckage at the scene.
LASTMA officials, supported by residents, were able to rescue the injured victims, who were immediately taken to Mobonke Hospital on Meiran Road for urgent medical care.
The bodies of the two deceased persons were handed over to the Nigeria Police for evacuation, while the Meiran Divisional Police Officer led officers to cordon off the area and support rescue and recovery efforts.
It was gathered that the driver of the Dangote Silo Mixer Truck absconded from the scene shortly after the incident.
Reacting to the development, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and cautioned motorists, especially operators of heavy-duty vehicles, against plying the roads with faulty vehicles.
He warned that excessive speeding and poor vehicle maintenance remained leading causes of road crashes in the state and urged all road users to adhere strictly to traffic rules and ensure the roadworthiness of their vehicles to safeguard lives.