One person has died and several others were injured following two separate crashes that occurred in the early hours of Friday along the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, leaving thousands of commuters stranded and disrupting economic activities.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos Sector Command, the first crash occurred at about 12:05 a.m. on the outbound carriageway towards Ibadan. The accident involved five articulated trucks and a Toyota Sienna.
The FRSC attributed the crash to excessive speed and loss of control.
Sector Public Education Officer, Elizabeth Jayeola, said seven adult males were involved in the accident. One person died, another sustained injuries, while five others escaped unhurt.
While emergency responders were carrying out rescue and recovery operations, another crash occurred at about 3:15 a.m. on the inbound carriageway towards Lagos. The lone accident involved a Mazda commercial bus and was caused by brake failure.
Jayeola said the bus driver sustained serious injuries and was rescued by the FRSC emergency response team before being taken to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre for treatment.
When Channels Television visited the scene, officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), FRSC, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and the Nigeria Police were managing traffic and coordinating recovery efforts. Tow trucks were also deployed to clear the wreckage.
The crashes triggered a severe traffic gridlock stretching from Kara Bridge to Otedola Bridge and beyond, with congestion extending to the Isheri-Olowora axis and Ogunusi Road.
Hundreds of commuters travelling into and out of Lagos were left stranded as vehicles remained at a standstill. Many resorted to trekking, while others used commercial motorcycles, popularly known as okada, to navigate the gridlock.
The disruption also affected business activities along the major highway linking Lagos with other parts of the country.
To ease congestion, LASTMA announced the temporary implementation of one-way traffic from Berger to the OPIC Turning.
The FRSC advised motorists to use alternative routes pending the completion of recovery operations. Travellers heading from Lagos to Ibadan were urged to divert through the Ikorodu-Sagamu route, while those entering Lagos were advised to consider the Lekki-Epe Expressway or the Ikorodu-Sagamu Expressway.
The latest incident adds to the growing number of crashes recorded along the Kara Bridge corridor, a notorious accident hotspot where authorities have repeatedly blamed reckless driving, speeding and other traffic violations for frequent accidents.
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