On Tuesday, four people were left with life‑threatening injuries after a chain‑reaction crash involving two heavy trucks, a commercial bus and nine motorcycles on the First Gate, inward Mile 2 stretch of the Mile 2‑Seme Expressway in Lagos. The incident did not claim any lives but caused a temporary shutdown of the busy corridor.
**What caused the collision?**
Preliminary investigations by the [Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagos_State_Traffic_Management_Authority) suggest that one of the [Mack trucks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mack_Trucks) suffered a brake failure, causing it to lose control and strike a second truck carrying a 20‑foot container, a T4 commercial bus (registration AAA 723 YF) and the nine motorcycles operating on a restricted highway.
**Who were the victims?**
The impact left four victims – three men and one woman – with critical injuries, including multiple fractures to their arms and legs. Their condition required immediate rescue and urgent medical attention.
**What did officials say?**
“The force of the impact left four victims, three males and a female, with critical injuries, including multiple fractures to their arms and legs. The gravity of their condition necessitated immediate rescue intervention and urgent medical attention,” said Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at LASTMA.
**How did authorities respond?**
LASTMA officers conducting routine traffic management in the area arrived promptly, establishing emergency traffic control, rescue and incident‑management operations. The injured were extricated and handed over to security personnel from the Roro Police Division, who transported them to a nearby hospital for treatment.
**What actions followed the crash?**
The crash scene was secured, traffic disruption managed and the damaged vehicles cleared to restore normal flow. The driver of the container‑carrying Mack truck, together with other drivers involved, was surrendered to police for further investigation and possible prosecution.
**What is the broader concern?**
Olalekan Bakare‑Oki, General Manager of LASTMA, expressed sympathy for the victims and urged motorists, commercial operators and other road users to observe traffic rules, exercise caution and ensure regular mechanical inspections of their vehicles. He also highlighted the danger of allowing commercial motorcycles on restricted highways where they share space with heavy‑duty vehicles.