Trailer falls off bridge, kills three in Lagos

No fewer than three people were killed on Wednesday after
a container on a 40-feet trailer fell off the Ojuelegba
Bridge onto the road below.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the container, which was not
latched to the trailer, crushed two private vehicles which
were in motion.
The vehicles, a white Toyota and a black jeep, were
reportedly mangled under the weight of the container.
A crowd of residents and motorists was said to have
converged on the scene as there was apprehension on the
number of casualties involved in the incident.
The situation was said to have caused traffic snarl in the
area as traffic officials had a tough time controlling the
number of people trooping the scene and redirecting the
traffic.
The driver of the trailer reportedly attempted to escape
the scene.
He was, however, apprehended by the angry mob.
A witness, who identified himself as Sir J, said the accident
happened around 4.50pm.
He said, “It happened around 4.50pm, as we were all in the
park doing our businesses.
“The container on the 40-feet trailer suddenly fell off the
bridge and crushed two private cars.
“The driver of the trailer wanted to flee, but we
apprehended him. There is chaos everywhere.”
A check on social media by our correspondent showed the
accident was already trending, as people called on
government officials to intervene.
A resident with the Twitter handle@ lvck_skinhead, wrote,
“I just started running, couldn’t even look back; so many
injured and dead. I have never been this scared in my
life.”
Another resident, Olaseni Oladejo, said one of the cars was
mobile when the container fell.
The resident, who wrote on Twitter, said, “The truck
container fell on a moving car killing the driver and one
passenger.”
The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency
Management Agency, Michael Akindele, said three persons
died in the incident.
He said, “We are already on the ground and there is a lot
of crowd around here.
“Three persons were killed. Rescue operation is still
ongoing.”
The spokesperson for the National Emergency Management
Agency, South West zone, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the
occupier of the second car escaped unhurt.
He said, “It is one jeep that is under the container. And I
was told just one person is inside, but we have yet to
ascertain whether it is a man or a woman.
“Rescue officials from the state and federal agencies are
on the ground.”