Lawma truck cuts Lawma official in two

Juliana Francis

An official of the Lagos Waste Management Authourity (LAWMA) was today sliced in half after the lawma truck (PSP), which he was riding in, along with three other officials skidded.

According to eye-witnesses, the accident, which occurred at the Car Wash bus stop area of Egbeda/Idimu Road, Lagos State, was caused by commercial bus drivers who stopped to pick passengers along the road, and at illegal bus stops. The real bus stop is the BRT one, created by the state government, but many commercial drivers used to shun it.

The PSP truck was said to have overturned as its driver tried to avoid ramming into the two commercial buses, filled with passengers. The commercial bus drivers were said to be struggling to overtake each other at the bus stop, to pick passengers.

The accident, which occurred at about 7am, caused the PSP truck to overturn, killing the lawma official instantly. But three officials among the four, escaped unhurt.

As soon as the truck overturned, the deceased, identified as Idowu, was caught under, with part of his body, from his chest, cut into half and buried under the truck.

The accident caused a gridlock, which spilled to Iyano-Ipaja, Isheri, Igando, Iyana-Oba, among other axis.

Commuters were forced to step down from commercial buses and took to trekking to their various destinations.

When the journalist reached the scene, officials of Road Safety, Police and Lawma were at the scene. 

Some of the Lawma officials were crying in a broken hearted manner.

Two cranes were later brought to move the truck off the deceased’s body.

One of the Lawma officials, Mrs. Aminu-Odukoya, a field supervisor said that Idowu was one of the officials collecting refuse from residents whenever the PSP truck stopped at refuse points.

She said she was pained that nobody was able to get the plate numbers of the buses that caused the accidents. Apparently both buses took off immediately the accident happened.

They had stopped to pick bags of refuse and were about driving off when the accident occurred.

Another Lawma official, Mr. Olakunle Agenjo, a Lawma police, said: “This Car Wash is not a bus stop. This accident happened at about 7am. The PSP truck has stopped to pick refuse and was about to drive away. A commercial bus came and parked in its front, picking passengers, another one parked at the back of the truck, also picking passengers.

“Suddenly, as the truck was about to continue on its way, the commercial bus at the back, drove fast and attempted to overtake the one at the front. But the one at the front would not allow the driver. In the confusion, the truck would have run into them, but it would have led to the death of so many people, which was why the driver attempted to steer the truck over the culvert, but the truck overturned and our man turned with it and he was killed.”