Update: Sep 11, 2026
British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua survived a fatal road crash in Ogun State, Nigeria, on December 29, 2025, after the Lexus SUV carrying him collided with a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The crash occurred around 11 a.m. in the Makun area, near the Sagamu interchange, on the Ibadan-bound side of the highway. Ogun State Police confirmed that Joshua was seated in the rear of the Lexus and sustained minor injuries. He was taken to hospital for medical assessment and observation.
Two members of Joshua’s team, strength and conditioning coach Sina Ghami and personal trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele, died in the crash. Their deaths prompted an outpouring of grief across the boxing community. Reports identified both men as close associates of Joshua who had worked with him professionally.
How the Anthony Joshua Crash Happened
The precise circumstances of the collision became the subject of an official investigation. The Federal Road Safety Corps said its preliminary findings indicated that excessive speed and an unsafe overtaking manoeuvre contributed to the crash. According to the FRSC account, the Lexus lost control during the manoeuvre before striking the stationary truck.
Early reports also circulated claims involving a possible tyre problem. Those details should be treated separately from the official preliminary findings unless investigators establish them as contributing factors.
The Ogun State Police Command said further investigation was required to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Anthony Joshua’s Recovery
Joshua remained conscious after the crash and was reported to be in stable condition. The Lagos and Ogun state governments said doctors conducted clinical assessments and continued monitoring him at a medical facility.
He was discharged from hospital on December 31, 2025, according to subsequent reporting, after doctors determined that he was clinically fit to continue recovering at home.
The accident happened shortly after Joshua defeated Jake Paul by sixth-round knockout in Miami on December 19, 2025.
Driver Faces Criminal Charges
The Lexus driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was charged in connection with the fatal collision. Police said the charges included dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without a valid national driver’s licence. Kayode denies the allegations.
The legal case remains separate from the road-safety investigation. Any allegation against the driver should therefore be presented as an allegation until determined by the court.
Joshua has longstanding family connections to Nigeria and spent part of his childhood there. His Nigerian heritage made the crash particularly significant to fans in both Nigeria and Britain.
The deaths of Ghami and Ayodele remain the most tragic consequence of the accident. Joshua’s survival and subsequent recovery brought relief to his family, supporters and the wider boxing community, while the ongoing legal proceedings continue to examine how the fatal collision occurred.