Horror on Third Mainland Bridge as crash kills mother, daughter survives

A devastating head-on collision on the Third Mainland Bridge has claimed the life of a mother, leaving her 30-year-old daughter as the lone survivor in a crash that has once again spotlighted the deadly toll of reckless driving in the state.

The fatal accident occurred early Tuesday at the Ilaje inward Iyana Oworo axis, involving two Toyota Sienna vehicles in a violent impact that left both cars badly mangled.

Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) described the collision as catastrophic, blaming excessive speeding for the severity of the crash.

Eyewitnesses said the vehicles collided head-on with a thunderous impact, sending shockwaves through the busy bridge and causing immediate gridlock along the corridor.

LASTMA operatives, already on routine patrol, responded swiftly to the distress call, deploying safety cones and sealing off the crash scene to prevent further accidents and restore order to traffic flow.

Personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Oworonsoki Division, also arrived promptly, taking charge of documentation and launching an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Despite frantic rescue efforts, the female victim was confirmed dead at the scene. Her daughter, who was in the same vehicle, survived the crash in what officials described as a miraculous escape.

The body of the deceased has since been evacuated, while emergency responders maintained a strong presence to manage the aftermath and ease traffic disruptions.

In a troubling twist, one of the drivers involved fled the scene immediately after the crash, raising suspicions about possible culpability.

The second driver, however, was apprehended by LASTMA officials and handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, issued a stern warning to motorists, urging them to desist from reckless driving and adhere strictly to speed limits.

He said the tragedy underscores the urgent need for discipline on Lagos roads, warning that over-speeding remains one of the leading causes of fatal accidents across the state.