The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed the deaths of two people following a collision involving two fully loaded 40-foot container trucks along the Cele inward axis of the Oshodi–Apapa Expressway at Mile 2 on Thursday.
In a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA said one of the victims was the driver of truck T-392 LA, while the second was a suspected trespasser whose presence near the vehicles could not immediately be ascertained.
“The driver was severely trapped within the steering compartment of his truck, requiring painstaking extrication by our Rescue and Recovery Team,” the statement said.
“The second deceased was carefully retrieved from beneath one of the trucks following an intensive search and recovery operation conducted under strict safety protocols.”
The agency said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), whose technical support was crucial to the complex rescue effort.
Security at the scene was maintained by officers of the Ilasa Police Division, who ensured perimeter control and preservation of evidence.
LASTMA added that the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit evacuated the remains after notification, allowing recovery efforts to continue and traffic to gradually resume along the busy logistics corridor.
Upon completion of on-site operations, the incident was formally handed over to the Ilasa Police Division for a full investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the crash.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the families of the victims, describing the incident as a stark reminder of the risks associated with high-density freight corridors.
He urged operators of articulated vehicles to adhere strictly to speed limits and safety regulations, stressing that nighttime freight operations require heightened vigilance and proper warning mechanisms to prevent avoidable tragedies.
