A tricycle rider lost his life when the compactor of a refuse truck, owned by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), fell from a bridge in Surulere, Lagos State.

The unfortunate incident occurred as the LAWMA truck was passing through the Shitta bridge, experiencing a mechanical fault that caused it to lose control. The truck collided with a Kia Salon car on the bridge, leading to the detachment of the compactor.

The impact of the crash resulted in the compactor falling onto a fully loaded mini-commercial bus and the tricycle beneath the bridge. While the passengers in the bus survived, the tricycle rider succumbed to the impact and died on the spot.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency responded promptly to the distress call, arriving at the scene around 10:20 pm. According to Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of the agency, the LAWMA compactor truck suffered a mechanical error, disengaging its propeller and causing the multiple accidents.

The remains of the tricycle rider were recovered from the scene and transported to the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, for further processing. All three vehicles involved were taken to the Iponri Police Station, while the LAWMA PSP compactor truck was moved to the agency’s yard at Ijora with the assistance of heavy-duty equipment.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the proper maintenance of vehicles to prevent such tragic accidents.

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