By Odita Sunday
Tragedy struck at Ekoro Junction, inward Ile-Iwe, on Tuesday when a tricycle operator was crushed to death and two passengers were severely injured in a grisly multi-vehicle crash caused by a trailer’s brake failure.
The accident, which involved a six-tyre trailer (AGL 514 XD), Honda Pilot (FST 992 DV), Toyota Camry (EKY 753 JA), and an unregistered tricycle, left the area in chaos as emergency responders battled to save lives.
According to preliminary investigations, the fully loaded trailer suffered a mechanical brake failure, causing the driver to lose control. The truck reportedly rammed into the tricycle, flattening it beyond recognition before colliding with a Honda Pilot, vaulting the median, and finally crashing into a Toyota Camry and nearby property.
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) arrived promptly at the scene, rescuing two trapped victims a man and a woman while confirming the tricycle operator dead on the spot.
The area was quickly cordoned off to prevent secondary accidents, while personnel from the Nigeria Police Force and the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SHEMU) were alerted to support the operation.
Security operatives from the Ile-Epo Police Division later evacuated the deceased and conveyed the injured to the General Hospital, Ile-Epo, for emergency treatment.
During the rescue and clearance operation, LASTMA officials diverted traffic through Iyana-Meran via Ajasa Command to ease gridlock, before reopening the route after the wreckage was towed to the Ile-Epo Police Station for further investigation.
Expressing sorrow over the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the crash as “tragic and avoidable,” stressing that it underscores the critical need for proper vehicle maintenance.
“Such fatal accidents can be prevented through strict adherence to speed limits and regular servicing of braking systems,” Bakare-Oki said.
He extended condolences to the family of the deceased tricycle operator and prayed for the quick recovery of the survivors, while reaffirming the Lagos State Government’s commitment to road safety and traffic law enforcement.
Bakare-Oki further urged heavy-duty and articulated vehicle drivers to prioritize safety checks and avoid reckless driving, warning that negligence remains a leading cause of preventable road tragedies across Lagos.