Mother, child crushed to death as container trucks overturn in Lagos

A yet-to-be-identified woman and her child have been confirmed dead after two container-laden trucks overturned at Mile 2, Lagos State.

The badly mangled bodies of the mother and her child were recovered from the scene over the weekend by emergency responders mobilised to the area.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, and made available to the Nigerian Tribune.

Taofiq said the incident occurred at Mile 2, near Freeman Market, inward Apapa, when two heavily laden 20-foot container trucks overturned.

“The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) over the weekend responded to a devastating road traffic incident at Mile 2, by Freeman Market, inward Apapa, in which a mother and her child lost their lives following the overturning of two heavily laden 20-foot containerised trucks.

“The harrowing incident left both victims trapped beneath the overturned trucks and their massive containerised cargoes, sustaining catastrophic injuries that rendered their remains unrecognisable.

“The tragedy underscores the grave and often irreversible consequences of road traffic incidents involving heavy-duty articulated vehicles, particularly when laden containers become implicated in fatal collisions,” he said.

Taofiq added that LASTMA’s rescue and recovery personnel promptly arrived at the scene to coordinate evacuation operations, secure the affected road and prevent further traffic complications.

He said the entire roadway was temporarily cordoned off, while vehicles were diverted through an adjoining service lane to ease congestion, ensure safety and protect other road users from secondary incidents.

According to him, LASTMA’s Rescue and Recovery Team deployed a crane and a high-capacity tow vehicle to facilitate the recovery operation.

He further stated that the specialised equipment was used to remove the overturned trucks and their heavily laden containers.

Officers of the Nigeria Police Force also provided security throughout the operation to ensure an orderly recovery process.

Following the evacuation, the victims’ remains were conveyed to the Police Mortuary in Yaba for the necessary procedures.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sorrow over the deaths, extending his condolences to the bereaved family.

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He described the incident as an immeasurable human tragedy and prayed that Almighty God would grant the family the fortitude, resilience and spiritual strength to bear the loss.

Bakare-Oki also called on relevant security agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation to establish the immediate and underlying causes of the accident.

He stressed the need to determine the circumstances that led to the trucks overturning and ascertain whether mechanical defects, overloading, improper cargo distribution, driver negligence or other factors contributed to the incident.

The LASTMA boss further emphasised the need for strict compliance with road safety regulations, regular vehicle inspections, proper cargo-securing procedures and responsible driving practices, particularly among operators of heavy-duty trucks transporting containers.

He reiterated that the protection of human life remained paramount and urged motorists, especially commercial truck operators, to exercise greater caution, ensure their vehicles were roadworthy and comply with prescribed safety standards.