Nigerian Afrobeats star Omah Lay, born Stanley Omah Didia, narrowly escaped harm after a severe car accident in Lagos on May 16, 2025, involving his Tesla Model Y and a commercial truck. The 27-year-old singer, known for hits like “Soso” and “Understand,” was returning from a studio session when the collision occurred, leaving his vehicle heavily damaged but the artist unharmed. The incident has sparked discussions about road safety in Nigeria’s bustling commercial capital.
The accident took place around 11:45 p.m. on Lekki-Epe Expressway, a busy corridor prone to traffic congestion. According to police reports, Omah Lay was driving his Tesla, a recent purchase, when a truck loaded with construction materials veered into his lane. The truck, reportedly speeding to meet a delivery deadline, struck the Tesla’s front end, causing the airbag to deploy and the hood to crumple. The impact pushed the car into a roadside ditch, while the truck sustained moderate damage to its side. Bystanders and other motorists assisted Omah Lay, who exited the vehicle shaken but without visible injuries.
Emergency responders arrived within 20 minutes, and Omah Lay was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Medical staff confirmed he suffered only minor bruises and was discharged after a few hours. The truck driver, a 42-year-old employee of a construction firm, claimed he lost control due to a tire blowout, though police are investigating potential factors like fatigue or mechanical failure. The driver was detained for questioning but has not been charged, pending the outcome of the investigation. Both vehicles were towed to a police yard for further inspection, with the Tesla deemed a total loss due to the extent of the damage.
Omah Lay, who rose to fame with his 2020 debut album Get Layd, addressed the incident in a brief statement, thanking fans for their concern and crediting the Tesla’s safety features for his survival. He noted that the accident disrupted his work on a sophomore album, set for release later in 2025, but vowed to resume recording soon. The crash highlighted the risks of Lagos’s chaotic roads, where heavy vehicles and passenger cars often share poorly maintained routes. Data from the Federal Road Safety Corps indicates that Lagos recorded over 1,200 accidents in 2024, with commercial trucks involved in 30% of cases.
The incident also drew attention to the growing presence of electric vehicles like Tesla in Nigeria, where high import costs limit their use to affluent owners. Auto experts praised the Model Y’s crash-resistant design, which likely mitigated the impact’s severity. Meanwhile, road safety advocates called for stricter regulations on truck maintenance and driver hours, citing the need to protect all motorists.