A man narrowly escaped death after being trapped inside a minivan that was crushed by a container-laden truck in the early hours of Saturday along the Ikorodu Road corridor in Lagos.
The incident took place at Idi-Iroko, inbound Maryland, around 1:30 a.m., and involved a 40-foot Mack truck, reportedly loaded with a container, and a white Toyota Sienna with registration number LSR 267 GZ.
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According to reports, the truck lost control while traveling at high speed, allegedly due to brake failure. The container it was carrying detached and collapsed onto the Sienna, leaving one male occupant trapped.
Confirming the development, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, stated that the agency’s midnight rescue team promptly arrived at the scene following emergency calls.
Taofiq said, “Acting with commendable dispatch, the LASTMA midnight surveillance and rescue unit responded swiftly to distress calls.
“Upon arrival, officers employed an array of high-grade rescue apparatus and executed a painstaking extraction operation.
“Their valiant and highly synchronised efforts led to the miraculous rescue of a male occupant who had been pinned within the wreckage of the minivan and was treated by operatives of LASAMBUS.”
The truck driver reportedly fled immediately after the accident, possibly fearing retaliation from bystanders or legal consequences.
The wrecked Sienna was subsequently removed from the road and taken to Anthony Police Station, while the truck and container were confiscated and moved to LASTMA’s base for investigation.
LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, praised the team for their efficient emergency response and professionalism throughout the operation.
“This deeply distressing incident highlights, yet again, the perilous consequences of mechanical laxity, reckless driving, and habitual speeding on our thoroughfares.
“We therefore issue an urgent appeal to all truck operators to uphold the highest safety standards and adhere strictly to extant traffic regulations to forestall further avoidable disasters,” the LASTMA boss said.
He also applauded the commitment of the rescue personnel, noting that they worked diligently from 1:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. to restore normal traffic flow in the affected area.
