Multiple crashes cause gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan expressway, motorists stranded

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. It attributed the crash to excessive speed and loss of control. The statement read, “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. The statement further stated that the driver sustained serious injuries and was rescued by FRSC personnel before being taken to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre for 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. “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 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.