A fully-loaded truck with registration number GGE 624 YJ plunged off the Pen Cinema Bridge in Lagos on Saturday, leaving the driver critically injured in a dramatic crash that disrupted traffic along the busy Agege–Old Abeokuta Road corridor.
According to a statement by Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the incident occurred in the early hours of the day when the truck reportedly lost control while descending the bridge.
The impact sent the heavy-duty vehicle careening off the elevated road, crashing onto two commercial buses stationed beneath. The truck driver sustained serious injuries, including multiple fractures to both hands, and was quickly extricated by LASTMA operatives before being handed over to officers of the Elere Police Division. He was subsequently rushed to the General Hospital, Ile-Epo, for emergency treatment.
“In a bid to safeguard other road users and forestall secondary incidents, LASTMA personnel swiftly secured the accident site by cordoning off the area and diverting vehicular traffic,” the statement read.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) later deployed its response unit to clear the wreckage and restore normal traffic flow in the area.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed concern over the frequency of such accidents, especially involving articulated vehicles. He urged motorists particularly truck drivers to exercise heightened caution, especially as the rainy season sets in.
Bakare-Oki emphasized the need for strict adherence to road safety regulations and the proper use of speed-limiting devices recently mandated for commercial vehicles. He also extended the agency’s well-wishes for the injured driver’s swift and complete recovery.
