The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed the deaths of eight persons following a devastating pre-dawn crash in the Badagry area of Lagos State on Sunday.
The tragedy occurred at Atura Bus Stop, inbound Badagry, and involved a commercial Mazda bus and a DAF truck, throwing the local community into mourning.
Among the victims were the driver and conductor of the ill-fated 16-seater commercial bus, which was said to be traveling at high speed before losing control and ramming into the stationary truck.
According to Taofiq Adebayo, Director of Public Affairs at LASTMA, the bus, bearing registration number KJA 811 YF, collided with the DAF truck marked DAFT1 4636 LA in what he described as a “cataclysmic impact” that left little to no chance of survival for several occupants.
“The tragic incident occurred when the commercial bus driver, traveling at a perilously high speed, lost control and collided catastrophically with the DAF truck. The impact was so severe that many passengers died on the spot,” Adebayo stated.
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Emergency responders, including personnel from LASTMA, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and the police, swiftly arrived at the scene to evacuate victims and restore traffic flow along the busy Badagry expressway.
Local eyewitnesses who arrived shortly after the collision said the crash site was chaotic, with several passengers trapped and severely injured. Others described a scene of unimaginable carnage, with shattered glass, twisted metal, and belongings scattered across the road.
Authorities have since moved the remains of the deceased to the morgue, while investigations are ongoing to determine the precise cause of the accident, beyond overspeeding.
In response to the tragedy, LASTMA has reiterated its warning to commercial drivers to adhere strictly to speed limits, especially in residential and semi-urban corridors like Badagry, to avoid further loss of lives.
The incident adds to a growing list of fatal accidents on Lagos roads in recent months, many of which have been linked to reckless driving, vehicle overloading, and non-compliance with road safety standards.