40-foot container plunges off Apapa bridge, LASTMA rescues victims

A 40-foot articulated truck careened off the elevated Apapa Bridge in Lagos, narrowly escaping catastrophe.

Swift action by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) prevented a potential disaster as officers rescued a gravely injured driver and a motor boy from the scene.

Adebayo Taofiq, the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department at LASTMA, confirmed the occurrence and attributed it to a combination of brake failure and excessive speed on the part of the truck.

The incident unfolded as the articulated 40-foot empty flatbed truck attempted to ascend the high bridge opposite the ‘Sifax’ Company by Ijora ‘Olopa’ en route to Apapa.

Taofiq recounted, “The injured driver was rescued by LASTMA personnel amidst a pool of blood emanating from his head, while the motor boy sustained a serious waist fracture near his spinal cord.”

Preliminary investigations revealed that the truck driver lost control due to brake failure while vying for the right of way with another fully loaded truck on the ascent of the High Bridge toward Apapa.

In a display of solidarity, nearby articulated truck drivers rallied around the ‘Sifax’ Company, offering support to LASTMA personnel during the rescue operation. Together, they successfully extracted both the driver and the motor boy, who were trapped beneath the overturned truck.

Goriola Jimoh, known as ‘Zebra,’ an officer from Zone 22 Apapa, led the rescue efforts, ensuring the swift transportation of the injured individuals to the General Hospital at Apapa for urgent medical attention.

The crashed articulated truck was later removed from the scene by officials from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit.

The case has been handed over to the police at the Ijora–Badia Police Station for further investigation. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical role played by emergency responders in averting potential tragedies on the city’s busy roadways.