The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Wednesday confirmed the death of a tricycle rider in a road traffic accident involving a Volkswagen truck at Ekoro Junction, in Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos.
The LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed this in a statement made available to Newsmen in Lagos.
Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency received distress calls through its 767/112 toll-free emergency lines at about 10:00 a.m. and immediately activated the State’s Emergency Response Plan from its Igando Base.
He said on arrival of LASEMA Response Team, a Volkswagen truck with registration number AGL 514 XD, laden with beverages and bottled water, was found to have fallen on a tricycle, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, at the location.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the truck suffered a mechanical failure (brake failure) while descending the road. Efforts by the driver to stop the vehicle proved abortive, leading to the crash,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
He said the impact of the crash resulted in the death of the tricycle rider, while the truck driver and two occupants of two other cars involved sustained varying degrees of injuries.
According to him, the injured victims have been taken to the hospital for treatment, while the body of the tricycle rider has been handed over to officials of the Nigerian Police Force from Ilewe Police Station.
“The affected vehicles have been towed to Ilewe Police Station, and the scattered goods, beverages and bottled water have been cleared off the road to restore normal vehicular movement,” he said.
Oke-Osanyintolu added that LASEMA Response Team had conducted a risk assessment and implemented safety and control measures to prevent secondary incidents.
He said traffic management measures were also put in place to ease congestion along the corridor while recovery operations were carried out.
“The operation has been successfully concluded and the road has been reopened for vehicular activities,” he said.
Responders at the scene included LASEMA Response Team, Igando Base, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Nigerian Police Force, Ilewe Division.