Brake failure triggers third mainland bridge crash; LASTMA, Police rescue six injured commuters

Stanley Ihedigbo

Lagos State Government has expressed deep concern over a serious road traffic accident that occurred along the Third Mainland Bridge, Adekunle corridor, inward Iyana-Oworonsoki, involving a painted Volkswagen commercial bus with registration number KRD 436 XF.

According to the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, preliminary investigations revealed that the fully loaded commercial vehicle, which was conveying passengers alongside assorted household items, suffered a sudden and catastrophic brake failure while in motion.

The mechanical malfunction caused the driver to lose control of the bus, leading to its eventual capsizing on the carriageway.

As a result of the crash, six passengers—comprising two adult males and four adult females—sustained serious bodily injuries, while one of the victims suffered a critical injury to the eye at the point of impact.

Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), who were on routine traffic monitoring duties within the corridor, responded promptly and professionally to the emergency.

Through a well-coordinated rescue operation, all injured victims were swiftly extricated from the wreckage, preventing further complications.

In a show of commendable civic responsibility, concerned Good Samaritans assisted in transporting four of the injured passengers to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment.

Meanwhile, officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Adekunle Division, conveyed one male victim who sustained multiple fractures to a hospital for intensive medical attention.

Additionally, personnel of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) provided immediate on-the-spot medical care to another injured passenger at the scene.

To forestall secondary accidents and ensure the prompt restoration of traffic flow on the busy bridge, LASTMA officials facilitated the immediate evacuation of the crashed vehicle from the roadway.

Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, expressed heartfelt sympathy to the injured victims and their families, while wishing them a speedy and complete recovery.

Hon. Giwa also seized the opportunity to issue a stern warning to motorists—particularly commercial transport operators—against the dangerous practice of overloading vehicles. He stressed the importance of routine and thorough mechanical inspections, especially of braking systems, before embarking on any journey within or outside Lagos State.

He reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Lagos State Government to safeguarding lives and property on its road networks, emphasizing that acts of negligence, reckless driving, and mechanical irresponsibility will continue to attract strict regulatory sanctions.