One killed when a tanker crushed three Lagos tricycles

• 23 containers claimed 27 lives in two years

At least one person was killed and several others injured when a petrol-laden tanker truck crushed three tricycles in the Ikotun area of ​​Lagos state on Tuesday.

PUNCH subway It is my understanding that the tanker, number plate JJJ 125, was descending a sloppy part of the way to Ikotun market when the brake failed.

An eyewitness, Dare Samson, said the tanker driver lost control as he approached the synagogue church at the end of the road.

He said: “Tricycles usually make a U-turn back to Egbe shortly after the Synagogue Church. By the time the involved tricycles were about to drop off their passengers, the tanker driver, who had lost control of the vehicle when he arrived at the synagogue, rammed into it.

Another eyewitness, Mojisola Ajisafe, said the driver was not speeding when the incident happened.

Ajisafe said, “I was on the other side of the road when the tanker drove towards the traffic light. No one thought the brake was failing because it wasn’t moving quickly; the fatalities would have been more than this. Four people were quickly pulled from the tricycles, including a pregnant woman who was unconscious; she was taken to a hospital.”

Lagos State Traffic Management Authority spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq confirmed the incident.

Taofiq said in a statement that officers from the agency handed over the rescued to police, who took them to a general hospital for treatment.

The statement read: “A preliminary investigation revealed that the fully loaded container tanker (JJJ 125) had a brake failure and crushed three tricycles near a valley around the synagogue church as it headed towards Ikotun.

“The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency immediately moved the tanker truck with those crushed tricycles to Ikotun Police Station.

“Other emergency responders, including Nigerian police from Ikotun Police Station, were at the scene of the accident.

“LASTMA’s general manager, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, has warned tanker truck owners and drivers to always ensure that their trucks are properly checked and in good condition before embarking on a journey.”

State Police Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed one death.

He said: “One person died and three persons were injured. The driver has been detained and the investigation is ongoing.”

Accidents involving containers

Meanwhile, between January 2021 and January 2023, as many as 27 lives have been lost in 23 container truck accidents.

Findings from our correspondent show that 10 containers fell on vehicles in 2021 and 10 incidents were recorded in 2022, up from three in 2023 so far.

Further checks revealed that Lagos recorded 15 incidents; Ogun, three; Rivers, two; Abia, Oyo and Kwara took one each.

Lagos had the highest casualty rate with 15 deaths; Ogun, four; Rivers, three; Oyo, three; Kwara and Abia, one respectively.

On January 29, 2023, a car accident involving a truck claimed the lives of nine passengers in the Ojuelegba area of ​​Lagos State.

The crash occurred when the 20-foot container being carried by the truck landed on top of a commercial bus, which was picking up passengers.

On October 13, 2022, three people were killed when a truck carrying a 40-foot container fell and knocked two vehicles into a river at the Eleme axis of East-West Road in Rivers State.

On September 7, a truck fell on a tricycle popularly referred to as Keke Napep, killing the three occupants instantly and trapping others in Ogun State.

Speak with PUNCH subway on Tuesday, Professional Driving and Safety Academy Chief Executive Officer Jide Owatunmise blamed poor training for the increasing carnage caused by truck drivers.

Owatunmise said: “A person who has an articulated vehicle cannot be told he needs training or his truck needs maintenance because he cannot be tracked. If it is a company’s truck that caused damage, the police can easily contact the company’s management for questioning, and if they don’t give in, the company can be punished.

“In addition, 99 percent of drivers have no knowledge of vehicle dynamics. Forget the fact that FRSC and VIO have organized training courses; these drivers are not trained in vehicle dynamics because if they have the knowledge they will be aware of overload and speed.

“Fatigue is a big problem because they get targets from their employers that they have to meet. There are tendencies that they may fall asleep while driving. Sometimes they use drugs to stay awake.”

A road safety expert, Ayomide Akinpelu, also blamed law enforcement agencies for failing to meet expectations.

Akinpelu said: “The problem of trucks that are not properly maintained is related to law enforcement. There was a time when it was enforced that trailers or trucks were not allowed to drive during the day. They were timed, but it seems the law is not being followed and law enforcement like the police, VIO and FRSC are not doing enough to enforce this rule.

“If you look at these trucks or trailers, they are owned by big men who make it difficult for law enforcement to penalize them. The trucks are not well maintained and the recklessness of the drivers is also known. We don’t even know if the victims’ families will be compensated.”

When asked about the number of truck drivers jailed or prosecuted for causing the deaths of commuters, Federal Road Safety Corps spokesman Bisi Kazeem said: “No one has been jailed. However, few cases are prosecuted in court.”

However, the Lagos government said that a driver, Sodiq Okanlawon, and one Wasiu Lekan, the owner of a container who killed three people on July 26, 2020 on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Ilasamaja, were convicted on February 28, 2022. and sentenced to life imprisonment by Judge Okikiolu Ighile.