Truck loses brakes, falls off Lagos bridge

A man was injured on Saturday after a truck transporting printing materials tumbled off the Oshodi Bridge in Lagos and landed in a ditch.

According to reports, the vehicle’s brakes failed as it was descending from Oshodi-Oke towards Mile 2, causing it to lose control and veer off the bridge.

In a statement, Adebayo Taofiq, spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), confirmed that the injured victim was rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Taofiq said the truck driver was arrested and handed over to police officers at the Makinde Police Station for “further investigation into the cause of the brake malfunction and other contributory factors.”

“Preliminary information gathered from the scene indicated that the ill-fated truck, reportedly laden with toner printing materials, experienced a critical mechanical failure while descending the bridge, thereby losing control before skidding off the carriageway and tumbling into the terminal below,” the statement reads.

“The unfortunate incident, which could have culminated in catastrophic casualties, was swiftly mitigated through the prompt, professional, and coordinated intervention of LASTMA personnel who arrived at the scene within minutes to rescue victims, manage traffic, and prevent escalation.

“Upon arrival, the officers immediately commenced rescue operations and successfully extricated a male victim who sustained grievous injuries in the accident.

“To forestall secondary collisions and ensure the safety of road users, LASTMA operatives swiftly cordoned off the accident scene, diverted vehicular movement, and supervised the clearance of the wreckage, thereby restoring traffic normalcy within a remarkably short period.”