Tragic Lagos Crash: Man Dies, Wife Critically Injured as Granite Truck Crushes Car
A devastating road accident on Thursday morning, February 12, 2026, has claimed the life of a motorist and left his wife with life-threatening injuries after a granite-laden articulated truck toppled and crushed their Toyota saloon car at Eleko Junction along the Lekki-Ajah Expressway in Lagos State.
Catastrophic Brake Failure Leads to Fatal Collision
Preliminary reports from security briefings indicate that the articulated truck, heavily loaded with granite and traveling at excessive speed from the Epe axis, experienced a catastrophic brake malfunction as it approached Eleko Junction. This mechanical failure caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, which then veered off its path and collided forcefully with a Toyota saloon car traveling from Ajah inward Epe.
The sheer momentum of the impact resulted in the massive truck toppling over and descending upon the smaller car, crushing it completely beneath its prodigious weight. The director of the Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed these details in an official statement.
Valiant Rescue Efforts and Tragic Outcome
Authoritative reports reveal that the driver of the Toyota saloon car became entrapped within the mangled wreckage. Through coordinated intervention by LASTMA personnel and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), working alongside public-spirited bystanders, the victim was eventually extricated from the debris. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
His wife, who was seated in the front passenger seat, sustained life-threatening injuries and was immediately rescued for urgent medical attention. The remains of the deceased and his critically injured spouse were evacuated from the accident locus by an ambulance service deployed by FRSC for requisite medical and mortuary procedures.
Truck Driver Flees Scene in Condemnable Act
In what has been described as a most condemnable abdication of responsibility, the driver of the articulated truck fled the scene immediately upon witnessing the recovery of the deceased victim, thereby evading lawful accountability. Operatives from the Akodo Police Division provided essential security reinforcement, maintaining order and safeguarding the vicinity throughout the rescue and recovery operations.
LASTMA General Manager Expresses Condolences
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, conveyed his profound condolences to the bereaved family, characterizing the incident as a deeply distressing and preventable tragedy. He extended earnest prayers for the expeditious and full recuperation of the injured spouse while reaffirming the agency's resolute commitment to rigorous enforcement of traffic statutes.
This commitment specifically targets reckless driving, mechanical dereliction, and egregious violations of established road safety protocols. The statement emphasized that such tragedies underscore the critical importance of vehicle maintenance and responsible driving behavior on Lagos roads.
Separate Fuel Tanker Fire Incident Contained
In a separate yet equally alarming occurrence, a 33,000-liter fuel tanker erupted into flames at midnight around Ile-Zik inward Magboro along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. The LASTMA Rescue Team, in seamless synergy with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, responded with remarkable promptitude and professional dexterity, successfully containing and extinguishing the inferno before it could escalate into a large-scale disaster.
To guarantee unobstructed emergency access and operational efficiency, LASTMA personnel immediately diverted vehicular traffic into the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor, thereby preserving public safety while minimizing disruption. Upon successful conclusion of firefighting and recovery exercises, the affected corridor was duly reopened, restoring normal vehicular movement.
These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges of road safety and emergency response in Lagos, Africa's most populous city, where rapid urbanization and increasing vehicular traffic continue to test infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.
