The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has disclosed that the truck driver responsible for the accident that claimed the lives of a family of three along the Otedola Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway fled the scene with his truck.

The accident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, also left two people injured.

The LASTMA Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, in a statement on Wednesday, explained that the crash happened when a heavily loaded truck travelling at excessive speed collided with one of the vehicles, resulting in a multi-vehicle crash.

The impact led to the death of the family of three who were trapped in the wreckage of their vehicle, an Audi.

Taofiq stated, “Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident involved three vehicles — an Audi, a Toyota Camry and a Toyota Corolla — and was initiated when a heavily loaded truck travelling at excessive speed violently struck one of the vehicles from the rear.

“The impact caused the vehicle to lose control, colliding with two additional moving vehicles, thereby triggering the fatal chain-reaction accident.

“The tragic accident instantly claimed the lives of three members of the same family — father, mother and their young child — while two other victims sustained critical injuries, underscoring the devastating consequences of reckless vehicular conduct.”

He noted that the driver of the truck responsible for the crash fled with the vehicle, adding that the injured victims were taken to a hospital.

“In a disturbing development, the truck driver absconded immediately from the scene with his vehicle, leaving the victims in peril and evading accountability for the fatal incident.

“Two critically injured victims trapped within the wreckage were carefully extricated and conveyed by the Lagos State Ambulance Service for urgent medical attention.

“The three deceased family members, tragically trapped together, were respectfully recovered and handed over to the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit for immediate evacuation.

“The surviving injured victims were rushed to the Lagos State Emergency and Trauma Centre, Toll-Gate, to receive comprehensive medical care.”

Reacting to the incident, the LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the crash as “an unbearable and irreplaceable loss of an entire family.”

Bakare-Oki, who spoke through Taofiq, lamented that the accident was preventable if traffic rules on speed limits had been obeyed.

He emphasised that excessive speed remains one of the most lethal contributors to road fatalities and urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, adhere strictly to speed regulations and cultivate defensive driving habits on highways.

He added that the agency remains committed to improving traffic surveillance, enforcing regulations and working with security and emergency responders to prevent similar tragedies.

Also reacting to the incident, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed that three people died in the accident.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency received a distress call around 7 a.m. and, upon arrival at the scene, discovered that a Volkswagen Audi with registration number YAB 742 CN was completely wrecked after colliding with a truck.

The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has become increasingly notorious for fatal crashes as the yuletide season approaches.