The driver of an SUV carrying former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua during a fatal crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has been discharged from the hospital and faces potential prosecution for reckless driving, according to security and safety officials.
The tragic accident, which claimed the lives of two members of the boxing star’s team, has sparked both a formal police inquiry and intense scrutiny from highway safety officials. As judicial proceedings get underway, investigators are examining the precise sequence of events that led the vehicle to collide with a stationary truck near the Sagamu interchange.
Investigation and Police Action at the Sagamu Interchange
The driver of the vehicle involved in the collision has been discharged from Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, where he received medical evaluation following the crash. Following his discharge, he visited the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) office located at the Sagamu interchange, where the truck involved in the collision is currently being held by authorities.
According to the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the driver is actively cooperating with authorities. Anthony Joshua’s driver has been discharged from the hospital, and he is currently giving his statement,
CSP Benjamin Hundeyin told The Guardian. Meanwhile, an official of the FRSC disclosed that the driver of the truck involved in the crash fled the scene immediately after the accident and was subsequently declared wanted.
Legal proceedings concerning the incident are already moving forward. The court heard that police have yet to take a statement from Joshua following the crash. During cross-examination, Kayode’s lawyer questioned Ajayi over the lack of statement, to which he replied that efforts are ongoing
and that he had not contacted Joshua because he didn't have his number.
The trial was adjourned until 10 September.
Speed, Burst Tyres, and the Truck Driver Who Fled
Traffic enforcement agencies examining the crash site have pointed to a combination of high vehicle velocity and mechanical failure. The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) had earlier attributed the crash to a burst tyre and excessive speed. TRACE said preliminary investigations showed that the front tyre on the passenger side of the SUV Joshua was travelling in burst, causing the driver to lose control before crashing into a stationary truck.
Detailing the mechanics of the accident, according to an AFP report, TRACE spokesperson Babatunde Akinbiyi told reporters, “From the preliminary investigation that was conducted, definitely there was overspeeding on the part of the SUV Anthony Joshua was travelling in. In the course of that, the front tyre on the passenger side burst. That led to loss of control before the vehicle now swerved and rammed into the stationary truck that was parked. There was excessive speed….”
Joshua, 36, was taken to Duchess International Hospital in Lagos and is reported to be in stable condition. However, two members of his team, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, died at the scene of the crash. Matchroom Boxing confirmed the deaths in a statement, saying, With profound sadness, it has been confirmed that two close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, have tragically passed away.
Matchroom chairman, Eddie Hearn, also reacted, stating, With the heaviest of hearts. Two great men. Rest in eternal peace Sina and Latz. My thoughts and deepest prayers are with everyone.
Family Shock and Community Reaction
Joshua, who was born in Watford, has family roots in Sagamu – a town in Ogun state, near the crash site. Meanwhile, Joshua’s family earlier raised concerns over their inability to see the boxer following the fatal accident. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday at the family’s Sagamu residence in Ijokun, Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, said the incident came to the family as a “rude shock,” stressing that they were not immediately informed of the accident.
Sincerely, the news that our son, Anthony Joshua, was involved in a fatal crash came to us as a rude shock,
he said. “We did not get to hear this terrible news on time until calls started coming in from people seeking confirmation. Anthony comes home three or four times a year, especially during the festive season, and it is usually a time to rejoice with family. This was completely unexpected.”
After the collision, the boxer posted a tribute to Ghami and Ayodele on social media. I didn't even realise how special they are,
he wrote. I'll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. 100% it's tough for me, but I know it's even tougher for their parents.
