Panic at Ekoro Junction as tanker rams car, plunges into roadside shop
A tanker on Friday night rammed into a Toyota Corolla before veering off the road and crashing into a roadside shop at Ekoro Junction inward Abule-Egba in Lagos State, leaving one person dead and four others injured.
Eyewitnesses said the crash occurred at about 7:30 p.m. when the empty Mack tanker reportedly suffered a sudden brake failure, lost control, and first collided with the Toyota Corolla before plunging into the shop, causing extensive structural damage and panic among traders and pedestrians.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) stated that the tanker, with registration number EKY 900 XY, collided with a Toyota Corolla marked AAA 823 AY. The agency confirmed that one person died at the scene, while four others were rescued with minor injuries.
LASTMA said it swiftly deployed its rescue and recovery team, implementing traffic diversion, vehicular evacuation, and crowd control measures to ensure unhindered access for emergency responders.
The injured victims were extricated from the wreckage and handed over to medical personnel for treatment, while a heavy-duty tow truck was mobilised to remove the damaged tanker and clear debris from the busy corridor.
Authorities disclosed that the tanker driver fled shortly after the crash, and security operatives have launched a manhunt to apprehend him and commence legal proceedings.
Officers from the Ekoro Police Division secured the area and began investigations into the suspected mechanical failure, as the incident triggered heavy traffic congestion toward Abule-Egba and adjoining routes.
Expressing condolences to the victim’s family, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, urged drivers, especially operators of articulated vehicles, to prioritise routine maintenance of braking systems. Other responders at the scene included the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, and the Nigeria Police Force.
