By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Lagos
Three students of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) have lost their lives, while seven others sustained serious injuries in a ghastly accident that occurred in the early hours of Saturday at the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The multiple-vehicle collision, which happened around Powerline Junction before Aleje, inward Ikorodu Roundabout, involved a Toyota Corolla (SMK 42 AJ), an MPV bus, and four tricycles.
Eyewitnesses said the crash occurred after one of the vehicles lost control and rammed into others, leading to the fatalities and injuries. The victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the General Hospital mortuary in Ikorodu.
Sources within the university confirmed that the deceased, two males and one female, were undergraduates of LASUSTECH.
The incident has thrown the campus community into mourning, as students and staff expressed shock and condolences to the bereaved families.
Confirming the incident, the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described it as a “tragic and avoidable road mishap.”
He said preliminary investigations revealed that a tipper truck, travelling at excessive speed, suffered brake failure, causing the driver to lose control and crash into other vehicles and tricycles.
“The runaway vehicle careened into other road users, colliding forcefully with multiple vehicles and tricycles in its path, leading to devastating wreckage and loss of lives,” Bakare-Oki said.
He added that LASTMA operatives, in collaboration with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Shagamu Police Division, swiftly responded to the scene to prevent secondary accidents and conduct rescue operations.
Bakare-Oki further said that all wrecked vehicles were removed to restore traffic flow, while the seven injured victims were taken to nearby medical facilities for urgent treatment.
The LASTMA boss lamented the frequent occurrence of fatal accidents caused by recklessness, over-speeding, and poor vehicle maintenance, particularly brake failures.
He therefore urged all commercial and heavy-duty vehicle operators to adhere strictly to speed limits, conduct regular mechanical checks, and uphold safety standards to prevent further loss of lives on Lagos roads.