Multiple crashes on the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have caused gridlock, leaving motorists stranded.
One person was said to have died and two others injured in the accidents that occurred in the early hours of Friday. The Federal Road Safety Corps has advised motorists to use alternative routes following the crashes.
The advisory was issued in a statement by the Lagos Sector Public Education Officer, Elizabeth Jayeola.
The crashes occurred on both the outbound and inbound carriageways of the expressway, with rescue and recovery operations still ongoing.
The statement said 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, attributing the crash to excessive speed and loss of control.
According to the statement, a total of seven adult males were involved in the crash, with one person losing his life, one sustaining injuries, and five others escaping unhurt. It explained that due to the position of one of the heavily loaded trucks, the body of the deceased was trapped underneath the vehicle, necessitating the deployment of heavy-duty recovery equipment before evacuation could be completed.
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, involving a Mazda commercial bus. The statement explained that 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 corps also said its 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.
The Lagos Sector Commander, Kehinde Hamzat, sympathised with the families of the victims and appealed to motorists to remain patient and cooperate with traffic officials managing the incident. He strongly advised motorists to use alternative routes where possible to avoid delays from the Kara-Ojodu Berger corridor until recovery operations were concluded.
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 were mechanically fit before embarking on any journey.
