Four people have been killed and six others injured after a container-laden truck overturned onto an interstate passenger bus on Berger Bridge, inward Eleko, along the Ibeju-Lekki Expressway in Lagos State.

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

He stated that the accident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday when the articulated truck, conveying a 20-foot container, collided with a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number GME-589 ZU.

Oke-Osanyintolu noted that preliminary investigations indicated that the truck was travelling uphill on the bridge at excessive speed when it collided with the bus.

Oke-Osanyintolu added that four adult males died at the scene, while six others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

He stated, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the truck was ascending the bridge at excessive speed when it collided with the bus. In an attempt to avoid the collision, the truck driver lost control, causing the truck to overturn onto the bus.

“The impact was severe and tragically resulted in the loss of four adult males who were confirmed dead at the scene, while six other adult males sustained varying degrees of injuries.”

He added that LASEMA responders, working with the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force, secured the scene, administered first aid to the injured and evacuated them to Epe General Hospital for treatment.

According to him, a private crane was secured to recover the overturned truck and container and facilitate the safe removal of the deceased victims.

He noted that recovery operations were ongoing, while traffic management measures had been introduced to ensure safety along the corridor.

The state government commiserated with the families of the deceased and wished the injured victims a speedy recovery.

In a related incident, LASEMA’s Tiger Team from C3 Base responded to a truck accident near Vetland School, inward Agege Pen Cinema, along Old Abeokuta Road, at about 4.09am on Wednesday.

The agency said the truck, with registration number KTU-940XT, rammed into a solar-powered streetlight pole before mounting the road median and obstructing traffic.

“Preliminary findings attributed the incident to reckless driving,” Oke-Osanyintolu said, adding that no casualty was recorded.

He said the streetlight pole and the front section of the truck were damaged, and traffic was diverted to prevent further accidents and ease traffic flow.

He added that the truck was subsequently recovered using LASEMA’s heavy-duty recovery equipment, Elephant, and taken to Abattoir Police Station for investigation and safekeeping while the road was cleared and reopened to traffic.

In another incident, Oke-Osanyintolu noted that LASEMA’s Beta Team from Igando Base responded to a collision involving a DAF truck, with registration number SMK 795 XY, and a Toyota Corolla, with registration number AKD 169 EA, at Lanre Bus Stop, inward Igando, along LASU-Igando Road.

Oke-Osanyintolu added that a broken-down truck on the opposite side of the road had caused traffic congestion when the DAF truck, travelling against traffic, collided with the Corolla and blocked half of the road.

He said no death was recorded, while the Corolla driver, who sustained a minor head injury, was taken to Igando General Hospital by an associate.

The Corolla was towed to Igando Police Station, while LASEMA deployed its Super Metro recovery equipment to move the DAF truck to a lay-by. The operation was ongoing as of the time of the statement.

The permanent secretary urged motorists to observe speed limits, avoid driving against traffic and reckless manoeuvres, and ensure their vehicles were mechanically sound before embarking on journeys.

He also advised residents to report emergencies through the state’s toll-free lines, 767 and 112.