A yet-to-be-identified truck driver narrowly escaped death on Saturday evening after a Mack truck conveying an empty 20-foot container was engulfed in flames along the Alausa Secretariat axis inward Otedola Bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The incident occurred just hours after a separate fatal accident along the Lekki-Epe corridor, where a driver and his assistant reportedly lost their lives following a collision involving a trailer and a gas tanker, raising fresh concerns over road safety across Lagos.
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Emergency response teams, including officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, were swiftly mobilised to the scene and successfully contained the blaze before it could escalate.
Eyewitnesses said the truck suddenly burst into flames while in motion, prompting the driver to quickly pull over and flee the vehicle. He reportedly sustained minor injuries in the process.
The prompt and coordinated intervention of emergency responders prevented the fire from spreading to nearby vehicles and infrastructure, averting what could have turned into a major disaster on the ever-busy expressway.
Their efforts also ensured the rapid evacuation of the affected vehicle and restoration of traffic flow, minimising disruption for commuters plying the route.
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property on Lagos roads.
He urged motorists, particularly operators of heavy-duty vehicles, to prioritise routine maintenance checks on both mechanical and electrical components, noting that negligence often contributes to avoidable road emergencies.
“LASTMA remains committed to its mandate of ensuring a safe, efficient, and well-regulated traffic system across Lagos State,” he stated.