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A mother and her child were at the weekend crushed to death when two heavily laden 20-foot container trucks overturned on them at Mile 2, near Freeman Market, inward Apapa, Lagos.
The victims were trapped beneath the overturned trucks and their massive containerised cargoes, sustaining fatal injuries that reportedly left their remains unrecognisable.
The Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the incident, describing it as a tragic reminder of the dangers posed by accidents involving articulated trucks carrying heavy containers.
According to him, LASTMA rescue and recovery personnel swiftly mobilised to the scene to coordinate evacuation operations, secure the affected road corridor and prevent further traffic complications.
He said the road was temporarily cordoned off, while vehicular movement was diverted through an adjoining service lane to ease congestion, ensure operational safety and protect other road users from secondary accidents.
“Demonstrating its operational preparedness and technical capacity for complex incident management, LASTMA’s Rescue and Recovery Team deployed a crane and a high-capacity tow vehicle to facilitate the arduous recovery operation.
“The specialised equipment was instrumental in the painstaking removal and evacuation of the overturned trucks and their heavily laden containerised cargoes,” Taofiq said.
He added that officers of the Nigeria Police Force provided security support throughout the operation to ensure an orderly and safe recovery process.
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The victims’ remains were subsequently conveyed to the Police Mortuary in Yaba for the necessary procedures.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed profound sorrow over the death of the mother and her child, extending his condolences to the bereaved family.
He described the incident as an immeasurable human tragedy and prayed that God would grant the family the fortitude and strength to bear the loss.
Bakare-Oki called on relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to establish the immediate and underlying causes of the accident.
He said the investigation should determine the circumstances surrounding the overturning of the two articulated trucks and ascertain whether mechanical defects, overloading, improper cargo distribution, driver negligence or other factors contributed to the tragedy.
The LASTMA boss also stressed the need for strict compliance with road safety regulations, regular vehicle maintenance, proper cargo-securing procedures and responsible driving, particularly among operators of heavy-duty articulated vehicles.
He urged motorists, especially commercial truck drivers, to ensure that their vehicles were roadworthy and comply with prescribed safety standards, stressing that human life must remain paramount.
According to him, preventive vigilance, mechanical integrity and responsible driving are essential to preventing avoidable deaths on Lagos roads.
