Dispatch Rider Killed as Two Trucks Collide While Battling for Right of Way in Lagos

A dispatch rider was killed on Saturday in a multiple-vehicle road crash involving two trucks at Ijesha, inward Mile 2, Lagos State.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the fatal accident in a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu. The incident was also reported by multiple Nigerian news outlets on Saturday. 

According to LASEMA, its Eagle Response Team was promptly deployed to the scene after the crash, which involved a FAW truck with registration number T-30364LA, an Iveco truck with registration number KSF 958 XV and the dispatch rider.

Preliminary findings by the emergency agency indicated that the crash occurred after the two truck drivers were allegedly battling for right of way.

LASEMA said the FAW truck struck the Iveco truck during the struggle for the lane, after which the Iveco truck hit the dispatch rider from behind. The impact left the dispatch rider fatally injured.

Officers of the Nigeria Police Force from the Okota Division subsequently evacuated the victim’s remains from the scene and deposited them at a morgue for identification and other necessary procedures.

Emergency responders also worked to prevent the crash from causing further danger to motorists and other road users. The two trucks were removed from the main carriageway and moved to a designated lay-by to clear the road and restore normal traffic flow.

LASEMA said its Eagle Response Team and police personnel remained at the scene throughout the recovery operation before the affected section of the road was declared safe for motorists.

Oke-Osanyintolu commiserated with the family of the deceased and prayed for the repose of his soul.

The LASEMA Permanent Secretary also urged commercial and articulated-vehicle drivers to exercise greater caution on Lagos roads, particularly warning against reckless driving, wrongful overtaking and dangerous competition for road space.

The agency stressed that road safety remains a collective responsibility and called on motorists to comply with traffic regulations to prevent avoidable crashes.

The fatal incident comes amid continuing concerns over the dangers posed by articulated vehicles on major Lagos traffic corridors. The Mile 2 axis, in particular, has continued to experience heavy truck activity and traffic pressure in recent days. 

LASEMA reiterated its commitment to responding promptly to emergencies and protecting the lives of motorists, pedestrians, dispatch riders and other vulnerable road users across Lagos State.