Truck crashes into pedestrian bridge at Ketu, Lagos

Etim Ekpimah

An articulated truck laden with a specialized container crashed into the pedestrian bridge at Ketu, Lagos State on Friday morning around 00.52 am.

Head, Public Affairs-LASEMA, Nosa Okunbor, said in the WhatsApp message circulated to newsmen that upon the agency’s investigation after arrival at the scene, it discovered that the truck with number plate ABG 111 XF, hooked to a low bed laden with the specialised container that crashed into the pedestrian bridge while on motion.

The preliminary report issued by Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary, LASEMA noted that following a distress call received today, 8th December, 2023 at 00:52hrs through the agency’s 112/767 toll-free lines, LASEMA promptly activated the Lagos State Emergency Response Plan.

He stated that the LRT from Alausa Command Control Centre and Cappa Base, Oshodi arrived at the incident scene at 01: 06hrs.

“Upon the arrival of the Agency’s Response Team at the incident scene, it was observed that a trailer with number plate ABG111XF, hooked to a low bed laden with a specialised container crashed into the Ketu Pedestrian Bridge in high motion.

“The crash occurred due to the height of the ‘specialised’ container that was higher than the standard height led to the destruction and total collapse of the Pedestrian Bridge bridge.

“A 14-passenger Mazda commercial bus, number plate KJA 752 YD was crushed in the process, thereby blocking the entire length of the road inward Ojota,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

He added that no lives were lost; three adult male passengers in the commercial bus sustained various degrees of injuries and were ferried to an unnamed hospital nearby before the arrival of the LASEMA Response Team.

Oke-Osanyintolu explained that LRT, LASTMA and NPF are responders making frantic efforts to evacuate the bridge’s debris off the road to restore normalcy.

“Status: The commercial bus has been successfully recovered off the road.

“Crashed columns of the Pedestrian Bridge have been lifted off the road, while the debris is still being evacuated.

“Operation is still ongoing with the continuous clearing of the leftover debris.

“The road has been partially opened for use while the operation continues to remove all remnants,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.

He stated that in attendance are the LASEMA Response Team, LASTMA, LASBCA, and the Nigerian Police Force.