Two rescued alive after multi-vehicle crash in Lagos

Two people were rescued alive after a multi‑vehicle collision involving a 12‑tyre articulated truck and a commercial bus on the Motorway inward Toll‑Gate corridor in the Ogudu‑Alapere area of Lagos State.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said its staff carried out a rapid rescue operation following the crash, which left the driver and a passenger trapped inside the wrecked bus.

A statement from LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, identified the vehicles involved as a heavily loaded DAF articulated truck and a commercial Volkswagen T4 bus registered AA 60 YF.

Initial investigations showed that the bus somersaulted after a violent impact, trapping the driver and one passenger inside the severely damaged vehicle. The incident also caused a major blockage on that section of the road.

LASTMA reported that its officers, who were on routine traffic monitoring patrol in the Toll‑Gate corridor, responded immediately to the emergency, activating rescue procedures designed to save lives, prevent further accidents and restore traffic flow.

The agency said its officers, with assistance from other emergency responders, successfully extracted the trapped victims from the mangled bus and arranged for their immediate evacuation to medical care by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).

The accident scene was then secured and cordoned off to protect rescue workers, emergency personnel and other road users.

Officers from the Ketu Division of the Nigeria Police Force also provided security support during the operation, helping maintain order and manage crowds.

To restore normal traffic movement, the damaged vehicles were removed from the roadway while LASTMA officials implemented traffic diversion and control measures to alleviate congestion caused by the accident.

General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare‑Oki, praised the professionalism, bravery and swift response of the officers involved in the rescue operation.

He said the successful rescue underscored the agency’s commitment to protecting lives, enhancing public safety and ensuring efficient traffic management across Lagos State.

Bakare‑Oki also advised motorists, especially operators of articulated vehicles and commercial transport services, to adopt defensive driving habits, obey traffic regulations and ensure their vehicles are in good mechanical condition before embarking on any journey.

“Motorists are strongly urged to eschew reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, excessive speeding and every form of traffic infraction capable of precipitating avoidable tragedies on our roads. The sanctity and preservation of human life must remain paramount in the conduct of every road user. No journey is so urgent as to justify compromising safety,” Bakare‑Oki said.

He further stressed that road safety is a shared responsibility and called on all road users to remain vigilant, patient, and disciplined while using highways and major roads across the state.