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Four Dead, Four Injured in Lagos Lekki–Epe Expressway Collision

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 15th, 2026.

Four passengers lost their lives while four others sustained serious injuries in a crash involving a truck and a commercial minibus along the Lekki–Epe Expressway over the weekend, officials confirmed. The incident was reported by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Public Affairs, Adebayo Taofiq.

The agency stated that the collision occurred opposite Beechwood, Shapati, inward Ajah. The accident involved a HOWO articulated truck (registration KNN 313 YL) and a fully loaded Suzuki commercial minibus, commonly known locally as a “Korope.” Preliminary investigations indicate that the truck driver lost control, veered across the carriageway, and collided head-on with the minibus carrying passengers.

“The catastrophic impact of the collision resulted in the immediate death of four male passengers, while four other occupants—two males and two females—sustained severe fractures after being trapped within the wreckage of the commercial vehicle,” LASTMA stated. Emergency responders, including LASTMA officials, passersby, and other rescue personnel, worked to extricate the trapped victims from the crushed minibus.

The injured passengers were rushed to Hamon Royal Hospital for urgent medical attention, while the bodies of the deceased were transported to Shency Hospital Morgue using an ambulance provided by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). Officers from the Nigeria Police Force, attached to Elemoro Police Division, maintained order at the scene and secured the area during the rescue operations. LASTMA confirmed that the truck driver and his assistant fled the scene following the collision.

LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki expressed grief over the tragedy, extending condolences to the families of the deceased and praying for the swift recovery of the injured. He also commended the coordinated efforts of emergency personnel, which he said were critical in rescuing trapped passengers. Bakare-Oki further urged motorists, especially drivers of articulated vehicles, to exercise caution, obey traffic regulations, and adopt responsible driving habits to prevent avoidable accidents.

The crash highlights growing concerns over road safety in Nigeria. According to PUNCH Online, road accidents across the country increased by 9.2% in 2025, rising from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 last year. Serious crashes also rose by 10.5%, from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025, while minor incidents jumped 17.5% from 907 to 1,066 during the same period, reflecting a troubling upward trend in traffic-related fatalities and injuries.

This latest accident underscores the ongoing challenges of road safety on Lagos’s busy expressways, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and improved driver awareness.