LASTMA ACTIVATES EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROTOCOL, AS FOUR OTHERS, ONE FATALITY WERE RESCUED AT EKORO JUNCTION, ABULE EGBA

By Olayiwiola Ibrahim // The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed a road traffic accident that occurred around 19:30 hours at Ekoro Junction inward Abule-Egba, resulting to one fatality while four other who sustained minor injuries were rescued in a brake failure accident.

This was caused by an empty MACK tanker who suffered a brake failure and rammed into a Toyota Corolla, before running into a road side shop.

The accident generated fair among pedestrians, traders and adjoining business operators within the corridor.

The tanker (EKY 900 XY) collided with a Toyota Corolla (AAA 823 AY).

The collision involves one fatality, while four other trapped persons were extricated from the wreckage through coordinated emergency rescue efforts.

In a prompt intervention by LASTMA Rescue and Recovery protocol, immediately deployed specialised operatives to the incident location for emergency response measures.

Personnel implemented strategic traffic diversion, vehicular evacuation procedures and crowd management in synergy with other emergency responders to forestall secondary incidents and guarantee unobstructed access for rescue operations.

To accelerate clearance operations, LASTMA mobilised a heavy-duty tow truck to evacuate the damaged tanker and remove debris obstructing vehicular movement along the axis and immediate medical attention for affected individuals.

The tanker driver reportedly absconded from the scene immediately after the occurrence, while swift operation has been launched to apprehend the fleeing driver to face necessary penalties.

Security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Ekoro Division, responded expeditiously, maintaining public order, securing the accident perimeter and assisting in investigative processes aimed at establishing the precise sequence of events that culminated in the mechanical failure and subsequent collision.

The incident resulted into a serious traffic congestion across adjoining route inward Abule Egba, while LASTMA officials remained on ground to manage the vehicular movement with a diversion strategy.

In a condolences to the bereaved family, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare Oki, reiterated that all transport operators particularly articulated vehicle drivers to prioritise routine mechanical inspections with heightened emphasis on braking systems, noting that preventable mechanical deficiencies remain a significant contributory factor in severe road traffic crashes.

Bakare Oki further urges motorists to exercise heightened vigilance, comply strictly with traffic regulations and sustain responsible driving practices, especially within densely populated commercial corridors where mechanical failures often yield catastrophic consequences.

He assured members of the public that security agencies would conduct a comprehensive investigation to unravel the remote causes of the incident and ensure the prosecution of any individual found culpable in accordance with extant laws.

Additional emergency responders present at the accident scene included the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) and officers of the Nigeria Police Force, all of whom collaborated seamlessly with LASTMA operatives to coordinate rescue, medical intervention, environmental safety measures, and the restoration of public order at the incident corridor.