By Esther Onyegbula

Many people narrowly escaped death when a 20-foot container fell off a truck at Mangoro area of Lagos State today, Saturday.

The accident, which occurred around 6 a.m., was caused by a mechanical issue with the truck, while it was navigating a bridge, causing it to roll backward.

Confirming the accident, Okunbor Nosa, Head of the Public Affairs Unit Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, said in a statement that the agency activated the Eagle Team from its heavy-duty equipment hub in Cappa Base after receiving a distress call via the 767/112 Emergency Toll-Free lines at 6:17 a.m.

Nosa said: “Further investigations conducted by the LRT revealed that the immediate cause of the accident was due to mechanical error (failed clutch).

“It resulted in the truck roll-back while navigating the bridge incline, then its fall which subsequently shutdown the bridge road 100%.”

Fortunately, no life was lost. However, the truck driver sustained some injuries and was taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, before the Eagle Response Team arrived at the scene.

Meanwhile, safety measures were implemented to forestall any secondary incidents from being recorded during the operation.

Also, traffic control measures were activated with road diversion conducted by LRT in conjunction with LASTMA and Officers from the Nigerian Police Force to forestall traffic backlog.

Vanguard News