Female passenger dies, six hurt in Gbagada crash as LASTMA clears traffic gridlock

Stanley Ihedigbo

A female passenger lost her life while six others sustained severe injuries following a tragic road traffic accident at New Castle Bus Stop inward Gbagada along the Oworonshoki–Apapa Expressway in Lagos over the weekend.

According to the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, the accident involved a Volkswagen commercial bus with registration number LSD 654 XY, which reportedly lost control and rammed into a roadside culvert along the busy corridor.

The impact of the collision forcefully ejected a female passenger from the vehicle onto the expressway. In a tragic twist, an oncoming articulated trailer approaching the scene was unable to halt in time and ran over the victim, resulting in her immediate death.

Six other occupants of the commercial vehicle, including the driver, sustained varying degrees of severe injuries, with some suffering multiple fractures. The driver of the articulated trailer reportedly fled the scene shortly after the incident.

Operatives of LASTMA monitoring traffic movement around the Gbagada axis responded swiftly to the accident, activating emergency traffic management measures to prevent further incidents.

The officials temporarily cordoned off the affected section of the expressway to ensure the safe evacuation of the victims and the removal of the wrecked vehicle.

The move also helped prevent a secondary crash along the busy highway.
Security personnel from the Pedro Police Division later arrived at the scene to provide support for traffic management officials and emergency responders, ensuring order and safety around the accident area.

Officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) evacuated the six injured victims, including the driver who reportedly sustained a fractured leg, to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment.

Meanwhile, personnel from the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) respectfully removed the remains of the deceased passenger from the scene.

After the rescue and evacuation operations were completed, LASTMA operatives cleared debris and other obstructions from the road, restoring normal vehicular movement along the expressway.

Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep condolences to the family of the deceased passenger and prayed for strength for them to bear the painful loss.

He also wished the injured victims a speedy and full recovery.
Bakare-Oki reiterated the agency’s commitment to continuous public enlightenment on road safety and urged motorists, particularly commercial vehicle operators, to ensure their vehicles are properly maintained before embarking on journeys.

He emphasized that routine maintenance, especially of critical components such as braking systems, remains essential to preventing avoidable road accidents and safeguarding lives on the nation’s highways.

The LASTMA boss added that strict adherence to road safety regulations and responsible driving practices remain crucial in reducing traffic accidents across Lagos State.