A Nigerian man's heartbreaking account of a life-altering accident has gone viral, drawing poignant parallels to the recent crash involving boxing superstar Anthony Joshua. The man revealed he was left paralyzed after a collision on the very same Lagos road where Joshua's accident occurred, claiming the lives of two of the boxer's friends.
A Life Changed Forever on the Lagos Freeway
Sharing his story on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), user @OloyeSomorin detailed the tragic events of September 26, 2022. He explained that his vehicle was parked on the side of the road when another car, driven by an individual named Akinwale Ogunmodede, veered off all lanes of traffic and crashed into him.
The impact caused severe injuries that resulted in paralysis. His post emerged in the wake of the December 29 accident involving Anthony Joshua, which happened just a few miles from his own crash site. "I’m saddened that Anthony Joshua was hurt and his friends lost their life," he wrote, expressing solidarity with the boxer's plight while highlighting a persistent danger on that stretch of road.
Unanswered Questions About Road Safety
Beyond sharing his personal trauma, the man raised crucial questions directed at the authorities and the public regarding the circumstances of Joshua's crash. His inquiries focus on accountability and regulatory oversight, which many Nigerians feel are lacking on the roads.
His pointed questions were:
- Who was driving the vehicle involved in Anthony Joshua's accident?
- Is that person a licensed driver in Nigeria?
These questions tap into widespread public concerns about roadworthiness, driver competence, and enforcement of traffic laws in the country.
Public Reaction Echoes Calls for Accountability
The man's post sparked significant reactions online, with many users sharing similar stories of neglect and accidents. User @Naijahunta criticized the apparent lack of proper signage and the dangerous parking of trailers, shifting blame from individual drivers to systemic failures. "FRSC will blame the drivers and nothing will be done to the truck owners," the user noted, referring to the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Another user, @dav_adekunle, questioned why a long vehicle was parked in a non-parking zone without adequate emergency indicators to warn oncoming traffic. Meanwhile, @Tobiholloway007 suggested over-speeding as a likely cause, emphasizing the need for defensive driving in a country where "you need to look after yourself."
The conversation also revealed that the story of Akinwale Ogunmodede, the driver named in the 2022 crash, is familiar to some, as noted by user @Anumbajones.
This tragic connection between two incidents on the same road, years apart, has amplified calls for a thorough investigation into the Anthony Joshua crash and a broader review of road safety measures on Nigerian highways. The victim's voice adds a powerful, personal dimension to the ongoing discourse about preventing needless tragedies on the road.
