LASTMA rescues driver trapped in fallen truck

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has confirmed the rescue of a truck driver who was trapped inside the tractor head of an overturned containerised truck along the Shagamu Road axis of Oke Gbegun, near Lagos State Polytechnic, LASPOTECH, Ikorodu.

The incident, which occurred around midnight, was disclosed in a statement shared on Sunday via LASTMA’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

According to the agency, the fully loaded 40-foot containerised truck suffered brake failure, causing it to lose control and overturn along the busy roadway.

LASTMA said its operatives arrived at the scene to find the driver still trapped inside the cabin, describing the rescue operation as delicate and tense due to the weight of the container and the position of the vehicle.

“When we got the call, the driver was still inside the cabin. It was a tense situation because the truck was fully loaded and the angle of the overturn made rescue challenging,” the agency stated.

“Our team moved quickly to stabilise the vehicle and free the driver. The safety of the trapped driver and other road users was our top priority,” the statement added.

The authority explained that its Rescue and Recovery Team immediately mobilised the Super Metro 002 high-capacity recovery truck to commence rescue and clearance operations.

LASTMA noted that the accident caused significant traffic congestion in the area, as the overturned truck partially blocked the road.

“Traffic was heavily affected, and vehicles were diverted to alternative routes to ease movement. Although the main road was partially blocked, our officers coordinated effectively to ensure emergency access and minimise disruption,” the agency said.

Further updates on the recovery operation were expected as at the time of filing this report.