Search for truck driver after collision claims lives of Anthony Joshua’s friends
Police in Nigeria are searching for the truck driver who disappeared from the scene of the fatal collision that claimed two lives from Anthony Joshua’s inner circle, reports BritPanorama.
The driver of the stationary lorry allegedly fled shortly after the devastating incident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a route notorious for its dangers.
Authorities have impounded the truck, which is now being held at the Federal Road Safety Corps facility near the Sagamu interchange as investigators continue their work.
The hired driver behind the wheel of Joshua’s Lexus SUV is also facing scrutiny. Having been released from hospital, he has provided a statement to officers and may face criminal charges for reckless driving.
A source from the Federal Road Safety Corps stated: “Preliminary reports indicate the driver exceeded speed limits and overtook dangerously before the crash. These are serious offences under Nigerian law and can attract criminal liability if fatalities are involved.” Babatunde Akinbiyi, Police Commander of Nigeria’s Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, confirmed that initial investigations suggest the combination of excessive speed and a burst tyre caused the tragedy.
Officers believe the SUV lost control whilst attempting an overtaking manoeuvre, though that is yet to be confirmed. Images and footage from the crash site reveal the truck was positioned off the road surface, near the inside lane of the three-lane highway.
Joshua remains in a stable condition at the Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, where medical staff expect him to stay until the new year. On Monday, the 36-year-old former heavyweight champion said: “I feel pain all over my body.”
Sources close to the British fighter revealed that he experienced intense pain in his knees and cried out as rescuers pulled him from the wreckage. His mother, Yeta Odusanya, travelled immediately to be with her son and has remained at his bedside, according to local reports.
The Ogun state government confirmed that a full medical team has been assembled to monitor Joshua closely, adding that he requires no emergency intervention. His two closest friends tragically perished instantly at the scene. The victims have been named as Latif Ayodele, a childhood friend of the boxing star, and Sina Ghami, his trusted fitness coach. Both men were seated on the right side of the Lexus and are thought to have died on impact.
Joshua and his driver, positioned on the left of the vehicle, survived the collision. The group had been en route to Sagamu in south-west Nigeria, where they planned to spend the festive period with Joshua’s relatives.
The crash occurred just ten days after the British boxer knocked out YouTuber Jake Paul in a lucrative fight in America. Insiders have expressed concern that the emotional trauma could jeopardise potential bouts in 2026, including a much-anticipated clash with Tyson Fury.
The tragic loss of Joshua’s friends serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers on Nigeria’s roads, where risk is often exacerbated by reckless driving and inadequate safety measures. In a sport defined by resilience, the challenge now lies not just in the ring but in navigating personal grief amidst the relentless ascent of a career.
