Tragic Collision on Eko Bridge Leaves Two Dispatch Riders Dead, Sparks Outcry Over Road Safety

 

A harrowing scene unfolded on Sunday along the Eko Bridge corridor leading towards Alaka, as a catastrophic accident involving two massive Mack trucks claimed the lives of two dispatch riders, leaving Lagos residents shaken and grieving. The crash, described as particularly violent, has brought renewed attention to the perilous consequences of reckless driving and fatigue among truck operators.

Chaos erupted following a collision that involved two fully loaded Mack trucks bearing registration numbers T-10357 LA and KJA 107 XM. According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), one of the trucks, allegedly driven by a fatigued operator who may have dozed off behind the wheel, rammed into another moving truck ahead. The impact triggered a deadly chain reaction.

A 20-foot container, dislodged during the forceful collision, toppled onto the roadway, landing directly on two dispatch riders navigating the same route. Eyewitnesses report that the victims stood no chance. They were crushed on impact and died instantly, with emergency responders later confirming their deaths at the scene.

LASTMA officials, who were conducting routine patrols beneath the Eko Bridge, sprang into action as soon as the crash occurred. One of the truck drivers was found seriously injured and received immediate medical attention from the Lagos State Government’s emergency response team. He was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital.

The other two truck drivers, however, abandoned their vehicles and fled the scene before authorities could apprehend them. The reasons for their escape are believed to be linked to the fatal consequences of the accident and possible legal ramifications. Their identities have not yet been confirmed, but efforts to locate and arrest them are underway.

Traffic around the area quickly became gridlocked following the incident. LASTMA officers worked swiftly to secure the crash site, cordoning off the affected section of the bridge to prevent further casualties or traffic-related incidents. Vehicles were rerouted through the Costain Roundabout toward the National Stadium to ease congestion and ensure commuter safety.

Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, General Manager of LASTMA, expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased dispatch riders. Calling the accident a “needless and devastating loss of life,” he urged drivers—especially operators of articulated and heavy-duty vehicles—to uphold safety standards and maintain full alertness while on duty.

“This tragedy underscores the grave risks posed by irresponsible driving practices, particularly among truck drivers. Fatigue and speed can become lethal when combined, as we have sadly witnessed today,” Bakare-Oki said in a public statement. He added that public awareness campaigns on road safety would be intensified, particularly targeting drivers of large freight and commercial vehicles.

Multiple agencies converged on the scene to manage the aftermath of the crash. Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), and the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) collaborated with officers from the Iporin Division of the Nigeria Police Force to clear debris, assist victims, and ensure public order.

As investigations into the cause of the crash continue, the authorities have pledged to hold all responsible parties accountable. The fleeing truck drivers remain persons of interest, and law enforcement officials have vowed to pursue all legal avenues to bring them to justice.

The Sunday tragedy has reignited public calls for stricter regulations on trucking operations and more stringent enforcement of road safety laws across Lagos. Many residents took to social media to mourn the victims, expressing anger over what they described as the routine endangerment of lives on major highways due to the negligence of heavy vehicle operators.

While the city continues to reel from the shock of yet another avoidable accident, LASTMA and its partner agencies maintain their focus on making Lagos roads safer through consistent enforcement, public education, and swift emergency response.

The scars of Sunday’s crash remain fresh—not just on the concrete of the Eko Bridge, but in the hearts of a city now mourning two lives lost in service, crushed beneath the weight of a system still struggling to rein in its most dangerous drivers.