An elderly man has died after being thrown out of a moving truck following a tyre burst around the Gbagada area of Lagos State.
The accident occurred around the TREM axis of Gbagada, inward Oshodi, when the front tyre of a fully loaded Mercedes-Benz six-tyre truck reportedly burst, causing the driver to lose control.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
Taofiq said the truck, with registration number ABJ 37 AC, was travelling at considerable speed when the incident occurred.
He explained that the elderly passenger, who was seated in the front cabin, was thrown out of the vehicle during the driver’s attempt to stabilise it.
The passenger reportedly hit his head against a sharp object and died instantly.
According to LASTMA, its Night Rescue Team, which was conducting surveillance along major traffic corridors, arrived promptly at the scene and cordoned off the area.
The team subsequently evacuated the deceased from the busy carriageway into an ambulance belonging to the Lagos State Emergency Medical Services to prevent further danger to other road users.
Personnel of the Pedro Police Division and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also participated in the emergency response.
Taofiq added that the overturned truck could not be immediately removed because of the volume and nature of its cargo.
He said arrangements were therefore made to transfer the assorted goods into another empty truck before the damaged vehicle was recovered.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased, describing the tragedy as a painful and avoidable loss.
Bakare-Oki warned motorists, particularly operators of heavy-duty vehicles, against excessive speeding, noting that it reduces reaction time, compromises vehicle stability and increases the severity of road crashes, especially when mechanical failures occur.
He said the consequences of the accident could have been less severe if the truck had been travelling at a controlled speed despite the sudden tyre burst.
The LASTMA boss urged truck operators, commercial transporters and other motorists to embrace responsible driving, conduct regular vehicle inspections and pay particular attention to the condition of their tyres and braking systems.
He also advised drivers to remain calm and maintain proper control of their vehicles when confronted with sudden mechanical faults.
Bakare-Oki reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to traffic surveillance, emergency response and collaboration with other relevant agencies to protect lives on Lagos roads.
