A tragic road accident on Ikorodu Road, Lagos, on Sunday claimed the lives of an eight-month-old baby and an adult woman, leaving at least ten other passengers injured.
The crash occurred opposite Olabode House, between Anthony and Obanikoro, when a red long Tata commercial bus travelling from Palmgroove towards Anthony reportedly lost control while in motion.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq.
According to LASTMA, preliminary findings showed that the Tata bus was moving at a dangerously high speed when it suddenly suffered mechanical and directional failure.
“The vehicle veered off its lane, broke through the median barrier and crashed into an oncoming Volkswagen commercial bus heading from Anthony towards Palmgroove,” the statement said.
The impact of the collision led to the immediate death of a female passenger in the Volkswagen bus, while an eight-month-old baby later died from injuries sustained in the crash.
LASTMA operatives, with support from members of the public, rescued ten victims from the wreckage, including the drivers of both vehicles.
Six passengers were evacuated from the Volkswagen bus, while four others were rescued from the Tata bus. All injured victims sustained varying degrees of injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals by the Lagos State Ambulance Service.
Security at the scene was provided by officers of the Ilupeju Police Division, while officials of the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit evacuated the bodies of the deceased.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims, particularly the mother of the deceased infant, who survived the crash but sustained serious injuries.
He urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to obey speed limits and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, warning that reckless driving continues to pose a serious threat to lives on Lagos roads.
“Recklessness on the road remains a deadly menace with irreversible consequences,” Bakare-Oki said, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to traffic safety and emergency response.
