Executive Summary
- Anthony Joshua sustained minor injuries in a car crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Nigeria.
- Police confirmed two other passengers died at the scene of the accident.
- Authorities attribute the crash to a burst tire that caused the SUV to hit a stationary truck.
- Joshua was transported to a hospital and is reportedly in stable condition.
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua sustained minor injuries Monday in a vehicle collision in Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of two other passengers, according to confirmation from the Ogun State Police Command. The incident occurred approximately nine days after the boxer’s high-profile victory over Jake Paul.
According to police reports, Joshua was traveling in the rear seat of a Lexus SUV on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Sagamu, his ancestral hometown, at approximately 11 a.m. local time. Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo told ESPN that the accident was precipitated by a burst tire on the vehicle carrying the boxer.
Commissioner Ogunlowo stated that the tire failure caused the driver to lose control of the SUV, which subsequently swerved and collided with a stationary truck parked along the roadway. “The vehicle conveying Anthony Joshua… was involved in the accident under circumstances that are currently being investigated,” the Ogun State Police Command said in a formal statement.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that while Joshua suffered only minor injuries and was transported to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention, two other individuals in the vehicle were killed at the scene. It has not yet been publicly confirmed if the deceased were in Joshua’s vehicle or the stationary truck, though the police statement noted, “Tragically, two other passengers in the vehicle lost their lives at the scene.”
Representatives for Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, have addressed the situation. A representative told ESPN that early indications suggest Joshua is “OK but waiting on further official news.” Hearn told Daily Mail Sport that while he is awaiting detailed information, images from the scene suggest the boxer is in stable condition.
Investigative Outlook
The Ogun State Police Command has commenced a full investigation into the collision to definitively establish the sequence of events leading to the fatalities. While preliminary findings point to mechanical failure in the form of a burst tire, traffic investigators will likely examine vehicle maintenance records and road conditions on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as part of the inquiry. The focus of local authorities now turns to the identification of the victims and the formal accident reconstruction report.
