Driver Crushed to Death as 40-Foot Container Falls on Taxi Along
Tragedy struck on Sunday afternoon at the Soka Area of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway when a 40-foot container-laden truck overturned and crushed a commercial Nissan Micra taxi, killing its driver instantly.
The fatal crash, which occurred around 2 p.m., involved a trailer loaded with bales of imported clothing reportedly heading towards Ibadan, and a Micra taxi with registration number BDJ 981 ZY, said to be on a local commercial route between Toll Gate and Challenge.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as horrifying, saying the truck suddenly lost control and toppled over while attempting to navigate a bend.
The massive container detached from the trailer’s frame and landed squarely on the small taxi, flattening it beyond recognition.
“It was a terrible sight,” recounted Tunde Alabi, a roadside trader who witnessed the accident. “The Micra driver was trying to avoid a pothole when the truck leaned dangerously and the container came crashing down.
We all rushed there, but there was nothing we could do — the car was completely buried.”
Another eyewitness, Mrs. Ramota Saka, a food vendor in the area, said the accident caused panic as smoke briefly rose from the wreckage.
“We were afraid it would explode. People started screaming and running. It took over an hour before emergency officers arrived,” she said.
When Global Mirror News correspondent arrived at the scene around 4 p.m., rescue teams from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYTMA), and the Nigeria Police Force were seen using a crane to lift the container in a desperate effort to retrieve the trapped driver’s remains.
Traffic along the busy highway was brought to a standstill for hours, as commuters diverted through adjoining streets to avoid the gridlock.
Many road users lamented the increasing number of accidents involving articulated trucks on the expressway.
Speaking on the incident, the FRSC Sector Commander in Oyo State, Mr. Joshua Adekanye, described the crash as avoidable, blaming it on reckless driving and poor safety compliance by truck operators.
“Preliminary investigation shows that the truck driver was speeding and may have lost control due to mechanical failure or overloading.
The container was also not properly fastened to the trailer. This kind of negligence is unacceptable,” Adekanye told Global Mirror News.
He confirmed that the deceased driver’s body had been recovered and deposited at a Government mortuary, while efforts were underway to trace the fleeing truck driver, who abandoned the vehicle after the crash.
“We are appealing to haulage companies to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and their drivers properly trained. This kind of tragedy is entirely preventable,” the FRSC boss added.
Residents of the Soka area also called on the Federal Ministry of Works to repair potholes along the section of the expressway, which they say has become a danger zone for motorists.
“Several lives have been lost here in the last few months. Containers keep falling, and nothing has been done,” lamented Mr. Oladimeji Kareem, a resident. “Government should fix the bad portions and strictly monitor those trucks.”
By evening, normal traffic flow had been restored after the wreckage was cleared, but the crushed Micra car remained a grim reminder of the dangers that continue to plague one of Nigeria’s busiest highways.
