A devastating accident claimed the life of a Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) official late Monday night at Ketu Bus Stop, when a commercial minibus, popularly known as a “Korope,” collided with a stationary LAWMA compactor truck.
The incident, which occurred under the cover of darkness, has left the community in mourning and raised questions about road safety in the bustling city.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the tragedy in a statement on Tuesday.
According to him, the crash resulted from a deadly combination of reckless driving by the minibus driver and inadequate safety measures around the parked LAWMA truck.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the accident was caused by reckless driving on the part of the minibus driver, as well as the failure to place a proper ‘C-Caution’ sign at an appropriate distance from the parked LAWMA truck,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
The LAWMA official, who was working near the compactor truck at the time, was struck during the collision. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries before LASEMA paramedics could provide aid. The minibus driver, meanwhile, survived the crash but sustained severe injuries. He was promptly attended to by emergency responders and rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
The body of the deceased LAWMA worker has been transferred to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) for further handling, including identification and burial arrangements. Authorities have yet to release the official’s name, pending notification of his family.
