Lagos: One Passenger Killed, 6 Injured in Gbagada Auto Crash

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) successfully restored normal traffic flow following a tragic road traffic accident that claimed the life of a female passenger and left six others severely injured at New Castle bus stop in Gbagada along the Oworonshoki–Apapa Expressway, Lagos.

The director of Public Affairs, LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, stated that the preliminary reports involved a Volkswagen commercial bus with registration number LSD 654 XY reportedly lost control and violently rammed into a roadside culvert along the corridor. The force of the impact ejected a female passenger from the vehicle onto the expressway, while six other occupants sustained severe injuries, including multiple fractures.

In a devastating turn of events, an oncoming articulated trailer approaching the scene was unable to avert the sudden incident and subsequently ran over the passenger who had fallen onto the roadway, resulting in her immediate death.

LASTMA operatives monitoring traffic within the Gbagada axis responded with remarkable speed and professionalism, promptly activating emergency traffic control measures to manage the situation and prevent a secondary crash. The entire stretch of the expressway was temporarily cordoned off to facilitate the safe evacuation of the deceased, the injured victims, and the wreckage of the commercial bus involved in the accident.

Six occupants of the bus, including the driver who reportedly sustained a fractured leg were rescued with varying degrees of serious injuries. Meanwhile, the driver of the articulated trailer fled the scene immediately after the incident.

Security operatives from the Pedro Police Division swiftly arrived at the accident site to provide additional support for traffic management officials and emergency responders while ensuring order around the area.

Officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) evacuated the injured victims to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment. In addition, personnel of the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) removed the remains of the deceased passenger from the scene.

Following the successful rescue and evacuation operation, LASTMA personnel cleared the accident debris and restored free vehicular movement along the busy expressway.

Reacting to the tragic incident, the general manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep condolences to the family of the deceased passenger, praying that Almighty God grants them the strength to bear the painful loss.

He also wished the injured victims a speedy and full recovery.