Multiple crashes on the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway killed one person and injured two others, forcing FRSC to issue alternative route advisories Friday.
Two separate crashes at the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway caused a gridlock on Friday, leaving motorists stranded and one person dead, with two others reported injured. The Lagos Sector Public Education Officer, Elizabeth Jayeola, issued the advisory in a formal statement.
Both the outbound and inbound carriageways of the expressway were affected, with rescue and recovery operations still ongoing at the time of the statement. The crashes unfolded hours apart and drew multiple emergency agencies to the corridor.
The first crash occurred at approximately 12:05 a.m. on the outbound carriageway towards Ibadan, involving five articulated trucks and a Toyota Sienna. Preliminary investigations by the FRSC indicated that excessive speed and loss of control caused the collision.
Seven adult males were involved in the first crash on the outbound lane towards Ibadan. One person died, one sustained injuries, and five others escaped without harm, according to the statement issued by Jayeola.
The body of the deceased could not be immediately retrieved. “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,” the statement read.
While rescue and recovery operations were ongoing at that scene, a second crash occurred at about 3:15 a.m. on the inbound carriageway towards Lagos, involving a Mazda commercial bus. Brake failure caused that collision, according to Jayeola’s statement.
The driver of the Mazda bus sustained serious injuries and was rescued by FRSC personnel before being taken to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre for treatment. No other occupants of the inbound vehicle were listed among the casualties in the statement.
The FRSC rescue team, alongside the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and other emergency responders, was working to evacuate the crashed vehicles, recover the trapped victim, and restore the free flow of traffic. Operations were still active as of the time of the statement.
Lagos Sector Commander Kehinde Hamzat sympathized with the families of the victims and appealed to motorists to remain patient and cooperate with traffic officials managing the incident. His appeal came as the corridor remained heavily congested.
“Motorists are strongly advised to use alternative routes where possible to avoid delays from the Kara-Ojodu Berger corridor until recovery operations are concluded,” Hamzat stated. The advisory covered both directions of travel on the expressway.
Hamzat directed motorists travelling from Lagos towards Ibadan to divert through the Ikorodu-Sagamu route, while those heading into Lagos were advised to consider the Lekki-Epe Expressway or the Ikorodu-Sagamu Expressway. No timeline for the restoration of normal traffic flow was provided in the statement.
The FRSC also addressed the broader question of vehicle roadworthiness. Drivers of articulated vehicles and commercial buses received a direct appeal from the corps to confirm their vehicles were mechanically fit before setting out on any journey, according to the statement by Jayeola.
Brake failure on the inbound Mazda bus and excessive speed on the outbound trucks point to mechanical and driver-behavior factors in both crashes. Both causes were cited explicitly in the FRSC statement issued by Jayeola on Friday morning.
Recovery efforts at the scene required the deployment of heavy-duty equipment specifically to retrieve the body of the deceased, whose remains remained trapped beneath one of the heavily loaded articulated trucks involved in the first collision.
The FRSC advised motorists travelling towards Ibadan to divert through the Ikorodu-Sagamu route, while those heading into Lagos were directed to use the Lekki-Epe Expressway or the Ikorodu-Sagamu Expressway until recovery operations at the Kara-Ojodu Berger corridor are completed.
