EXCLUSIVE: Trailer Crushes Six to Death in Lagos

Lagos PRO, Braide 

No fewer than six persons were yesterday crushed to death and several others left with varying degrees of injury in a fatal vehicular accident at Ajayi Farm Bus stop, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

Although the identities of the deceased persons were yet to be identified as at press time, it was however gathered that one of the victims was identified as Samuel, a member of staff of Slot, a telecommunications company.

It was gathered that the accident was caused by a commercial motorcyclist who lost control while trying to evade arrest for contravening government's ban on commercial motorcycles on 495 roads in the state.  

His reckless driving triggered a chain of events which resulted in a multiple crash involving two heavy duty articulated trailers and a van.

At the impact of the crash, about five passersby and the occupant of the van, an Eko Meat Van, an initiative of the state government for transporting, distributing, and selling butchered meat, were killed on the spot.

According to eyewitness account,  the driver of the heavy duty truck had collided with the van because he was trying to avoid the commercial motorcyclist who had swerved right in front of the  truck with no warning.

An eyewitness simply identified as Kene said, "The fatal accident was caused by the commercial motorcyclist when he tried to avoid a check point mounted by men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

"Probably because of the way he swerved, he lost control of his motorcycle and rode right in front of the two trailers. In a bid to avoid  the motorcyclist, the two trailers who were on top speed collided with each other.

"But in the process, they skidded last the pedestrian walkway and killed about six pedestrians who were going about their daily activities."

It was gathered that after the fuss had died down, the commercial motorcyclist was nowhere to be found as he sped off to avoid the ire of the irate mob.

 The accident caused a terrible road snarl around the area and its environs, prompting motorists to seek for alternative roots to their respective destinations. 

As at press time, it was yet unclear if the police finally caught up with the commercial motorcyclist.