Motorists, commuters stranded in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway gridlock

Multiple crashes on the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have triggered a major gridlock, leaving motorists stranded for hours.

One person was confirmed dead, while two others sustained injuries in the accidents, which occurred in the early hours of Friday.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has advised motorists to use alternative routes following the incidents. The advisory was contained in a statement issued by the Lagos Sector Public Education Officer, Elizabeth Jayeola.

According to the statement, the crashes occurred on both the outbound and inbound carriageways, with rescue and recovery operations ongoing.

The first crash happened at about 12:05 a.m. on the outbound lane towards Ibadan and involved five articulated trucks and a Toyota Sienna. The FRSC attributed the accident to excessive speed and loss of control.

“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.

“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 rescue and recovery operations were ongoing, another crash occurred at about 3:15 a.m. on the inbound carriageway towards Lagos involving a Mazda commercial bus. The lone crash was caused by brake failure, leaving the driver seriously injured. He was promptly rescued by the FRSC emergency response team and taken to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre for medical treatment.”

The FRSC added that while emergency responders were attending to the first crash, another accident occurred at about 3:15 a.m. on the inbound carriageway towards Lagos.

It said the injured driver was rescued and taken to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre for treatment.

The corps noted that its rescue team, alongside the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and other responders, is working to evacuate the crashed vehicles, recover the trapped victim and restore free flow of traffic.

The Lagos Sector Commander, Kehinde Hamzat, sympathised with the families of the victims and urged motorists to remain patient and cooperate with traffic officials at the scene.

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

He 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 FRSC also urged drivers, particularly operators of articulated vehicles and commercial buses, to ensure their vehicles are mechanically fit before embarking on any journey.