NIGERIA: Multiple crashes cripple Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, leave one dead, two injured

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

Multiple crashes on the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in the early hours of Friday claimed one life, injured two persons and left hundreds of motorists stranded in a massive traffic gridlock.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said the crashes occurred on both the outbound and inbound carriageways of the expressway, prompting emergency rescue and recovery operations.

According to the FRSC, the first crash occurred at about 12:05 a.m. on the outbound lane towards Ibadan and involved five articulated trucks and a Toyota Sienna.

The agency attributed the crash to excessive speed and loss of control.

A total of seven adult males were involved in the incident. One person died, one sustained injuries, while five others escaped unhurt.

The FRSC said the recovery operation was complicated because the deceased remained trapped beneath one of the trucks.

“A total of seven adult males were involved in the crash. One person lost his life, one sustained injuries, while five others escaped unhurt. Due to the position of one of the heavily loaded trucks, the body of the deceased is trapped underneath the vehicle, necessitating the deployment of heavy-duty recovery equipment before evacuation can be completed.”

While emergency responders were still attending to the first incident, another crash occurred at about 3:15 a.m. on the inbound carriageway towards Lagos.

The second crash involved a Mazda commercial bus and was attributed to brake failure.

The 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.

The FRSC said its personnel, alongside the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other emergency responders, were working to evacuate the crashed vehicles, recover the trapped victim and restore free flow of traffic.

Lagos Sector Commander, Kehinde Hamzat, sympathised with the families of the victims and appealed to motorists to cooperate with traffic management officials.

He advised road users to avoid the affected section of the expressway until recovery operations were completed.

“Motorists are strongly advised to use alternative routes where possible to avoid delays from the Kara-Ojodu Berger corridor until recovery operations are concluded.”

The FRSC advised motorists travelling from Lagos towards Ibadan to divert through the Ikorodu-Sagamu route, while those heading into Lagos should consider using the Lekki-Epe Expressway or the Ikorodu-Sagamu Expressway.

The Corps also urged drivers, particularly operators of articulated vehicles and commercial buses, to ensure their vehicles were mechanically fit before embarking on any journey.