Three Dead as Articulated Vehicle Suffers Brake Failure at Sango-Ota Tollgate

A harrowing road traffic accident claimed the lives of three commuters on Wednesday evening at the Sango-Ota tollgate, situated along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

The incident, which occurred at approximately 9:05 pm, involved a Scania truck laden with timber, bearing the registration number GGE 681 XD. Reports indicate that the vehicle was descending the Dalemo slope from the Sango axis, inbound towards Lagos, when it reportedly suffered a mechanical catastrophic failure of its braking system.

Uncontrolled and gaining momentum on the incline, the truck careened into a group of commuters who were waiting at the bus stop to board vehicles. The heavy vehicle crushed three individuals before eventually colliding with another stationary, empty truck registered as SMK 795 YF.

Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Public Relations Officer for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), confirmed the fatalities during a press briefing.

“According to eyewitness accounts, the timber-laden truck suffered brake failure and rammed into the vehicle ahead of it,” Akinbiyi stated. “In the process, it tragically crushed the commuters who were attempting to board a bus at the Tollgate bus stop.”

A multi-agency rescue operation was swiftly mounted at the scene, comprising operatives from TRACE, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Police Force.

The victims, identified as two males and one female, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their remains have since been evacuated and deposited at the General Hospital morgue in Ifo for post-mortem examinations.

While the accident caused significant initial disruption to the flow of traffic along the busy expressway, TRACE operatives successfully managed the evacuation of the wreckage. Normalcy has since been restored, allowing for the unimpeded movement of vehicles and pedestrians.

In his concluding remarks, the TRACE spokesperson expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. He further issued a stern cautionary advisory to owners and drivers of articulated vehicles, urging them to ensure their vehicles undergo rigorous maintenance and safety checks before embarking on any journey to prevent further avoidable loss of life.