A tipper driver and his assistant were seriously injured on Tuesday after their vehicle crashed into another truck near the Berger Bridge along the Epe-Ibeju Lekki Expressway.
According to PUNCH Metro, the accident occurred after a gas tanker developed a mechanical fault, obstructing part of the road.
In a statement released by the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency said the incident was caused by an oil tanker that broke down along the carriageway.
Advertisement
READ MORE: Ola Of Lagos Not Owner Of Demolished Lekki Property — Firm
He stated, “Upon arrival at the scene, it was observed that an oil tanker with registration number MKA-232ZE, laden with Liquefied Petroleum Gas, had broken down along the carriageway.
“Further investigations revealed that the immediate cause of the breakdown was an engine malfunction, resulting in a partial obstruction of the traffic flow.”
Oke-Osanyintolu explained that the obstruction led to a collision between a granite-laden tipper truck and another vehicle at the scene. The impact left the tipper driver and his assistant trapped inside the wreckage.
He added that emergency responders were able to rescue the victims, who were then given first aid before being taken to Epe General Hospital for further treatment.
“While still under repairs along the bridge, the broken-down oil tanker truck suffered a secondary incident when a heavy-duty tipper, registration number unknown, laden with granite stones, collided with an articulated truck, registration number unknown, laden with tyres, at the location of the broken-down oil tanker.
“Further investigations revealed that the immediate cause of the collision was due to high speed by the tipper truck driver, which caused him to ram into the broken-down tanker and the other articulated truck.
“Fortunately, no loss of lives was recorded. However, the tipper truck driver and his truck assistant sustained severe injuries and were attended to by LASAMBUS before subsequently being ferried to Epe General Hospital for further treatment,” Oke-Osanyintolu concluded.
