Lagos Tragedy: Parents, Child Die as Truck Sparks Fatal Chain-Reaction Crash

A devastating early-morning accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday claimed the lives of a father, mother and their young child, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed. Two other people were left critically injured.

According to LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, the crash occurred near Secretariat, inward Otedola Bridge, after a heavily loaded, speeding truck rammed into one of the cars from behind.

The impact forced the vehicle out of control, colliding with two additional cars — an Audi, a Toyota Camry and a Toyota Corolla — creating a fatal chain-reaction crash.

“The tragic accident instantly claimed the lives of three members of the same family… while two other victims sustained critical injuries,” Taofiq said in the statement.

In a troubling twist, the truck driver reportedly fled the scene with his vehicle, abandoning the victims and evading arrest.

Rescue officials from LASTMA, working alongside the Lagos State Ambulance Service, evacuated the injured victims and rushed them to the Lagos State Emergency and Trauma Centre at the Toll Gate.

The bodies of the deceased were handed over to the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit.

Security agents from the Isheri Olowora Police Division, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and Lagos Fire & Rescue Service supported the rescue operations.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the loss as “unbearable and irreplaceable,” urging motorists — especially truck drivers — to avoid reckless speeding and maintain safer road habits. He commended the swift, coordinated response of all emergency Agencies.