2 pregnant women, 2 children rescued from crash

By Christopher Oji, Lagos

Two people reportedly died, with four others rescued, when a fully loaded fuel tanker rammed into three rickshaws in the Ikotun area of Lagos on Tuesday.

The road crash comes barely two days after a truck fell from Ojuelegba bridge, Lagos, claiming nine lives and injuring many others.

Tuesday’s accident which occurred around 12:30 pm involved a fully loaded container truck (JJJ 125) and three commercial rickshaws, popularly known as “Keke Marwa”, with registration numbers: LSD 83 QM, AKD 690 QK, and AKL 87 QF.

According to a witness, Ben Edewade, the driver of one of the rickshaws with one passenger died on the spot.

“I am suspecting that the driver was on drugs because he was [moving at] high speed on a small but busy road. I thank God that the casualty figure was not more than that. I just pray that the two kids and the pregnant women will survive the accident,” the witness said.

The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA), Mr Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed that the agency rescued four victims, two pregnant women and 2 children, while two bodies were evacuated from the accident scene.

According to Toafiq, LATSMA personnel handed over the rescued victims to officers from the Ikotun police division, who transferred them to the General Hospital for treatment.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the fully loaded container truck (JJJ 125) had a brake failure and crushed three tricycles by a valley around synagogue when going towards Ikotun,” he reported.

“The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) immediately moved the tanker with the damaged tricycles to Ikotun Police Station.

“Other emergency responders including the police from Ikotun Police Station were at the scene of the accident.

“General Manager of LASTMA Mr Bolaji Oreagba, however, warned tanker owners and drivers to always ensure that their trucks are properly checked and are in good condition before embarking on any journey.”

A police source at Ikotun police division told our correspondent that the tanker driver was in police custody, where he will be interrogated after recovering from the shock of the accident and escaping a lynch mob.