A day meant to be filled with joy and celebration for a newlywed couple turned into a nightmare when they, along with 16 other passengers, sustained severe injuries in a harrowing multi-vehicle accident on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, on Saturday.
The couple had just exchanged vows and were returning from the Ikoyi Marriage Registry, their hearts undoubtedly brimming with dreams for the future. But those dreams were shattered in a split second.
The accident, caused by a brake failure in a speeding commercial LT bus, left a scene of chaos and heartbreak. The bus violently collided with a mini truck moving slowly due to mechanical issues, sending shockwaves through the busy bridge.
A Scene of Desperation and Pain
According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, the LT bus lost control before ramming into the mini truck. The resulting collision left 16 passengers—11 women and 5 men—severely injured.
Among the injured were the newlyweds, their wedding attire now marked with blood and dust instead of confetti and joy. What should have been a journey into a promising new life became a desperate race against time to save lives.
Emergency responders, including LASTMA officials, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), rushed to the scene. They worked tirelessly, cutting through mangled metal to rescue two passengers trapped in the wreckage of the LT bus.
The trapped victims were pulled out alive but with grievous injuries and were rushed to Gbagada General Hospital for urgent medical care. Meanwhile, the other injured passengers were taken to the Lagos State Trauma and Emergency Centre near the Toll Gate on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Shattered Dreams and Painful Lessons
The image of the injured newlywed couple remains a haunting reminder of how fragile life can be. What started as a day filled with promises of love and togetherness ended in anguish, their future now clouded by pain and uncertainty.
LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki expressed deep sympathy for all the victims, urging drivers to adhere to speed limits and ensure their vehicles, especially braking systems, are in proper condition. “These tragedies are preventable,” he emphasized.
Bakare-Oki also highlighted the ongoing efforts of LASTMA’s Female Elite Corps, which aims to educate commercial drivers about safe driving practices, particularly during the festive season.
A Plea for Safer Roads
As emergency responders cleared the scene and restored order to the bridge, the haunting reality of the accident lingered. This tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the importance of road safety.
For the newlyweds, the promise of “happily ever after” has been replaced with hospital beds and prayers for recovery. For the other victims, their lives, too, have been thrown into turmoil.
This heart-wrenching incident underscores the urgency for drivers to take responsibility on the roads—not just for their own safety but for the countless lives they unknowingly hold in their hands.
