Ambulance knocks down spectator at 2026 Lagos City Marathon
Lagos City Marathon Disrupted by Ambulance Incident
LAGOS — The 2026 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon faced significant disruption on Saturday due to an incident in which an ambulance struck a spectator along the race corridor.
The collision occurred on February 14 during the 11th edition of the annual marathon, which featured thousands of athletes competing across major routes in Lagos. A video circulating on social media captured the moment when the ambulance, part of the race’s medical support team, entered the race area and collided with a bystander. This has raised concerns regarding safety protocols for the event.
The incident took place as both the 42-kilometer and 10-kilometer races were underway in Victoria Island and Lekki. Eyewitness accounts indicated that the presence of the ambulance in close proximity to runners and spectators created an atmosphere of panic and confusion.
Prior to the marathon, the Lagos State Government announced a comprehensive traffic diversion plan designed to facilitate the race while ensuring the safety of participants and the public. Officials stated that adjoining roads and intersections would be closed to unauthorized vehicles from 12:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in order to protect approximately 28,000 registered runners.
Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, had reassured residents that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and other security agencies would be strategically stationed along race corridors to maintain safety and restrict access.
The Ministry of Transportation described the diversion as essential for the successful execution of the marathon while minimizing disruption to the area’s traffic flow. However, the ambulance incident has spurred questions about the coordination between race organizers, medical teams, and traffic authorities regarding vehicle movement within the restricted sections of the marathon.
