Accident on Third Mainland Bridge kills one, Lagos blames excessive speed

One person has been confirmed dead in an accident on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State on Saturday.

The accident was said to have involved a Mini Truck (MUS 489 XS) and a Toyota Camry (KRD 470 JD).

A statement by Adebayo Taofiq, the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority reads, “Preliminary investigations revealed that the accident was caused by excessive speeding during a downpour this morning”.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, was quoted in the statement to have said three others were rescued at the accident scene.

He said, “Operatives of LASTMA responded swiftly to the accident, which occured near the UNILAG waterfront, heading towards the Iyana-Oworonsoki area of Lagos.”

Giwa said despite the government’s ongoing campaign to educate motorists about speed limits, drivers continued to flout the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.

He urged both commercial bus drivers and private car owners to avoid exceeding speed limits on the Third Mainland Bridge and other roads in the state.

Giwa said that the deceased was promptly removed by State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) officials, while LASTMA cleared the accident vehicles to ensure smooth traffic flow on the bridge.

He extended his condolences to the family of the deceased and emphasised the importance of road safety.

“He urged all motorists, including commercial bus drivers to refrain from speeding during any journey within or outside Lagos,” the statement added.