Three Students of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu, were killed while seven others sustained injuries in a fatal road crash on Saturday morning, November 8, at Powerline Junction, near Aleje, inward Ikorodu Roundabout.
Vehicles involved in the unfortunate accident were Toyota Corolla with registration number SMK 42 AJ, an MPV Bus, four tricycles and a tipper truck
A tipper truck moving at excessive speed reportedly suffered a brake failure, resulting in the incident.
The said vehicle veered into other road users, colliding with several vehicles and tricycles in its path, leading to multiple fatalities and severe injuries.
Those that sustained injuries (students and others) were rushed to a nearby hospital, while the bodies of the victims were deposited at the morgue.
Identities of the deceased students have not been officially released; however, sources within the university campus in Ikorodu confirmed they were undergraduates.
The tragedy saddened the university community, as students and staff extended their deepest sympathies to the bereaved families.
Confirming the incident, the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said the deceased included two male and one female LASUSTECH students who died at the scene
He added that LASTMA personnel, supported by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and police officers from the Shagamu Division, Ikorodu, arrived at the scene. They promptly began the rescue operation.
Bakare-Oki further confirmed that seven others, including tricycle operators, sustained various degrees of injuries in the crash.
“Preliminary investigations by traffic operatives revealed that the tipper truck, while travelling at an excessive speed, suffered a mechanical brake failure, causing the driver to lose control.
“The runaway vehicle careened into other road users, colliding forcefully with multiple vehicles and tricycles in its path, leading to devastating wreckage and loss of lives.
“Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), in a swift, coordinated, and professional response, immediately stormed the scene to forestall secondary accidents and to conduct rescue operations.
“They were reinforced by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from the Odongunyan Division and security personnel from the Shagamu Police Division. Together, they rescued and swiftly conveyed seven critically injured victims to nearby medical facilities for urgent treatment, while the three deceased casualties were respectfully evacuated and deposited at the General Hospital, Ikorodu mortuary,” he said.
The wreckage was cleared to restore normal traffic flow along the busy corridor. Bakare-Oki described the incident as “avoidable,” blaming recklessness, overspeeding, and poor maintenance for the recurring menace of road crashes.
He urged all commercial and heavy-duty vehicle operators to strictly obey speed limits and conduct regular mechanical checks.
