One Dies As Refuse Truck Falls Off Bridge In Lagos

An unnamed tricyclist has died after a compactor truck had mechanical issues and lost control, falling off Shitta bridge in the Surulere area of Lagos State.

THE WHISTLER gathered that the refuse truck belonging to the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) crashed into a Kia Rio Saloon car before landing on a mini-bus and the tricycle of the deceased.

The corpse of the tricyclist has since been transported to the Infectious Desease Hospital (IDH) Yaba by emergency responders.

Confirming the incident, Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said the agency received a distress call around 10:20 p.m on Tuesday.

Oke-Osanyintolu said: “The Agency activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans with Emergency Response Teams responding from Onipan, followed with necessary equipment from Cappa Base, the hub of LASEMA heavy-duty equipment in a 5-minute record time, at 2220hrs.

“Upon arrival of the LASEMA Response Team at the incident scene, it was observed that a LAWMA PSP compactor truck was involved in a multiple accident when it reportedly suffered mechanical error (disengaged propeller), lost control and crashed into a Kia Rio Saloon car, registration number unknown, on Shitta bridge.

“Further information gathered at the incident scene was that, the compactor thereafter crashed down the side of the bridge onto a seven-passenger mini-bus (korope) and a tricycle (Keke Marwa), killing the tri-cyclist instantly on impact.

“However, corpse of the tri-cyclist, (an adult male), was recovered from the incident scene at the aforementioned address, and transported to the Infectious Desease Hospital, IDH, Yaba for further processing.”

Meanwhile, all the vehicles involved in the multiple accident have been recovered to Iponri Police Station, while the LAWMA PSP Compactor truck was recovered to LAWMA yard at Ijora.

“In Attendance at the incident scene were the LASEMA Response Team, LASAMBUS, LASTMA, Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Surulere Divisional Office and Officers of the NPF from Iponri Police Station,” he added.