TRAGEDY struck late yesterday night as six people, including a police officer, were killed in a multiple-truck collision on the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The crash, which involved several articulated vehicles including a fuel tanker, led to a massive fire outbreak and gridlock that brought traffic to a standstill for hours.
Eyewitnesses said one of the trucks, carrying unidentified goods, lost control, veered off the road, and rammed into the bridge barricade before plunging into the river below.
The impact of the collision was so severe that one of the victims, reportedly a truck occupant, was burnt beyond recognition.
Emergency responders, including personnel from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the police, rushed to the scene to contain the situation.
According to LASTMA, eight casualties were recorded in the incident, and recovery operations were ongoing.
“A multiple road crash occurred where a truck and a container-laden trailer went up in flames, while another truck spilled cartons of biscuits on the road,” the agency stated on its X (formerly Twitter) page.
“Efforts are in top gear for the recovery and evacuation of the vehicles involved.”
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olorundare Jimoh, confirmed that five articulated vehicles were involved and attributed the crash to brake failure.
“We have a case of a multiple accident still under investigation. Unfortunately, we lost a police inspector,” he said, adding that those responsible for the accident would be prosecuted.
Three other people who sustained injuries were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
The accident also caused heavy gridlock on both sides of the expressway, forcing many motorists to drive against traffic.
Commercial drivers took advantage of the situation to hike fares, with the Berger–Oshodi route reportedly rising from the usual ₦1,000–₦1,200 to between ₦2,000 and ₦2,500.
This crash is happening less than 24 hours after another truck accident was reported on the Otedola Bridge, highlighting ongoing concerns over the poor maintenance of heavy-duty vehicles and reckless driving on major Nigerian highways.