Mother and child killed as two container trucks overturn at Mile 2, Lagos
- Two loaded 20-foot container trucks overturned at Mile 2 near Freeman Market, inward Apapa, over the weekend.
- A mother and her child were trapped beneath the trucks and their containers and died at the scene.
- LASTMA cleared the road with a crane and tow vehicle and called for an investigation into the cause.
A mother and her child have died after two heavily loaded 20-foot container trucks overturned at Mile 2, near Freeman Market, on the Apapa-bound side of the road in Lagos. The accident happened over the weekend, according to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
The victims were trapped beneath the overturned trucks and their containers. LASTMA said the pair sustained fatal injuries. Daily Post reported that the remains were unrecognisable.
The road was closed for a while and traffic was diverted through a nearby service lane to ease congestion and prevent a second crash. LASTMA's rescue and recovery team brought in a crane and a high-capacity tow vehicle to lift the trucks and their cargo off the road. Police officers provided security during the operation.
The bodies were later taken to the police mortuary in Yaba for the necessary procedures.
LASTMA chief seeks investigation
LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki expressed sorrow over the deaths and sent condolences to the family. He described the incident as an immeasurable human tragedy and prayed that God would give the family strength to bear the loss.
He called on the relevant security agencies to investigate what caused the trucks to overturn. The probe, he said, should establish whether mechanical faults, excessive loading, poor cargo distribution, driver negligence or other factors were responsible.
"The preservation of human life remains paramount," Bakare-Oki said.
He urged truck operators to keep their vehicles roadworthy, secure their loads properly and follow road safety rules. He also stressed regular vehicle inspections and careful driving, especially among operators of heavy-duty articulated trucks.
The accident is a reminder of the danger posed by heavy container trucks on Lagos roads, particularly around Mile 2 and the Apapa corridor, where trucks move in large numbers toward the ports. For residents and commuters, an overturned truck can block a busy road for hours and put traders, pedestrians and other road users at risk.
What happens next
The police and other security agencies are expected to look into the cause of the crash. LASTMA has asked truck owners and drivers to check their vehicles and secure their cargo before hitting the road.
