At least four persons, including a three-year-old boy, lost their lives on Wednesday in an accident that occurred on Kara (Berger) Bridge on the outskirts of Lagos on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The accident involved an articulated vehicle carrying containers and a commercial motorcycle also carrying two passengers, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The head of the Lagos-bound trailer got detached from the body on motion on the bridge and hit the motorcycle with the rider and two passengers on it.
It was learnt that within split seconds, the head plunged into Isheri-Olofi River, leaving a three-year-old boy on the motorcycle, the rider and two others dead.
The mother of the boy, who survived the accident, had a fracture in the leg.
Confirming the accident, the spokesman of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Kehinde Adebayo, said they got information about the accident about 8.45am.
Adebayo said: “The head of the truck detached while on motion inward Kara bridge and rammed into a motorcycle with the rider and two passengers.
“The head plunged into Isheri Olofi River and unfortunately a three-year-old boy on the motorcycle lost his life, while his mother had a fracture in the leg and she has been taken to the hospital by the Federal Road Safety Corps.
“As the head was recovered from the river with the aid of a heavy duty equipment and support from local divers, the bodies of three men were also recovered and had been deposited in the mortuary.”
Adebayo commended officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Ambulance Service, Lagos State Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Police and OP Mesa for their rescue efforts.
He advised motorists, especially articulated truck drivers, to always drive with care and ensure adherence to road safety regulations.
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