By Ayomide Otitoju
A fully-laden truck with registration number GGE 624 YJ plunged off the Pen Cinema Bridge in the Agege area of Lagos State on Saturday, leaving the driver with severe injuries. The incident, which occurred along Old Abeokuta Road, saw the truck fall onto two commercial buses stationed beneath the bridge, causing significant disruption in the area.
According to a statement from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), preliminary investigations indicate that the driver lost control of the vehicle while navigating the bridge, resulting in the truck veering off and crashing below. The driver sustained grievous fractures to both hands and was swiftly extricated from the wreckage by LASTMA officers, who immediately handed him over to the Elere Police Division. He was subsequently transported to the General Hospital, Ile-Epo, for urgent medical attention.
In response to the accident, LASTMA personnel cordoned off the scene and diverted traffic to prevent secondary incidents, while the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit cleared the wreckage, restoring normal traffic flow along the busy corridor.
Expressing concern over the incident, LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki urged all motorists, particularly truck operators, to exercise heightened vigilance-especially with the onset of the rainy season, which increases driving hazards. He emphasized the importance of strict adherence to road safety protocols and the use of speed-limiting devices, measures aimed at reducing the risk of similar accidents. Bakare-Oki also extended wishes for the driver’s speedy recovery.
