Tragedy on Apapa Oshodi Expressway as Hit and Run Tanker Driver Crushes Dispatch Rider Near Cele Bridge

A fatal collision on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway has left a dispatch rider dead. Police are hunting for the fleeing tanker driver after the 2026 Lagos crash.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 4:18 PM EDT

A Fatal Encounter on the Apapa Oshodi Corridor

The hazardous conditions of Lagos state's industrial transport arteries claimed another life on Wednesday when a dispatch rider was crushed to death by a diesel tanker. The incident occurred beneath the Cele Bridge, a notorious bottleneck on the expressway that connects the Apapa port complex to the rest of the metropolitan area. According to reports from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the tanker, a HOWO model with registration number RBC 38 XF, collided with the motorcycle while both vehicles were in motion. The impact was so severe that the rider became trapped beneath the massive frame of the truck, resulting in fatal injuries before emergency responders could intervene.

Emergency Response and Traffic Containment Measures

In the immediate aftermath of the crash, LASTMA personnel stationed along the Cele axis moved to secure the site and prevent the secondary accidents that often plague high speed Lagos highways. According to agency officials, the team acted with precision to cordon off the wreckage and manage the resulting gridlock that threatened to paralyze the Apapa Oshodi route. While the physical remnants of the accident were quickly contained, the emotional and logistical toll on the corridor remained high throughout the evening. The prompt arrival of traffic officers ensured that the tanker was impounded and removed from the thoroughfare, though the mechanical presence of the vehicle served as a grim reminder of the morning's tragedy.

The Escape of the Articulated Vehicle Driver

A significant complication in the pursuit of justice following the crash is the disappearance of the individual behind the wheel of the diesel tanker. Authorities confirmed that the driver abandoned the heavy duty vehicle and fled the scene on foot immediately after the collision, successfully evading initial attempts at apprehension. This act of negligence has shifted the focus of the investigation toward identifying the owner of the impounded truck to facilitate the arrest of the operator. According to the Ijesha Division of the Nigeria Police, the damaged motorcycle and the tanker have been taken into custody as forensic evidence while the search for the fugitive driver intensifies across the state.