A driver was rescued by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) after a 40-foot container fell on his Toyota Camry with the registration no. LSR 293 HJ at Mile 2 en route to Apapa in Lagos on Monday morning.
The lucky lone occupant of the car was immediately rushed to a hospital for immediate medical attention.
Following a successful rescue operation, the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, took to X.com on Monday to announce it.
According to the statement, a joint rescue team comprising LASTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) rescued the victim alive and rushed him to the hospital for immediate medical attention.
“In a distressing incident, a 40-foot loaded container fell onto a Toyota Camry, registration number LSR 293 HJ, at Mile 2, en route to Apapa.
“Through the swift and coordinated response of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other emergency services, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the driver of the vehicle was rescued alive.
“The victim received immediate medical attention after being rushed to the hospital by the joint rescue team.
“Security during the operation was effectively maintained by officers from the Kirikiri Police Division, who ensured a secure and orderly environment for the emergency responders.
“Following the rescue, the Toyota Camry was successfully removed from beneath the container. Efforts to evacuate the fallen container are ongoing, while LASTMA officers continue to manage the scene to ease traffic congestion and restore normalcy,” he said.
LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki emphasized the need for truck drivers and owners to ensure proper securing of containers to prevent accidents.
He cautioned that failure to secure containers properly poses a significant threat to lives and property and stressed the importance of adhering strictly to road safety guidelines.
Persecondnews reports that Lagos State has a long history of incidents involving containers falling on cars.
In 2024 alone, the state recorded 1,367 incidents in the truck/tanker category, ranking highest with 432 incidents in the last 10 months, including 297 truck accidents, 7 fallen containers, 110 broken-down trucks, 3 stuck trucks, and 15 fallen trucks/tankers.
Two containers fall off a truck onto a private car at Cele Bus Stop, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, in January this year.
Three people were rescued after a 40-foot container fell on their Toyota Corolla car in the Ojuelegba area of Lagos State on Sunday, September 24, 2023.
The accident occurred at 8 pm when the container-laden truck lost balance while ascending a bridge.
The truck’s container subsequently crashed onto the car, with plate number JJJ-811-FV.
Also, a fatal accident occurred on April 12, 2024, in the Alapere area of Lagos State, where a woman’s life was tragically cut short when a 40-foot container crushed her Nissan car, with plate number ABJ 692 BG.
The accident occurred when the driver of the Mack truck carrying the container lost control due to brake failure.
Several people also had a close call with death on Saturday, July 20, 2024, when a 20-foot container detached from a truck in the Mangoro area of Lagos State.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 6 a.m., was attributed to a mechanical fault that caused the truck to roll backward while crossing a bridge.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho, had identified the primary factors contributing to container accidents in the city.
The factors, he said, include overloading, poor vehicle maintenance, reckless driving, inadequate road infrastructure, and insufficient enforcement of traffic regulations.
Additionally, Omotosho noted that poor drainage systems also contribute to these accidents.
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