At least four people, all adult males, including a police officer, lost their lives in a multiple-truck accident on Wednesday night along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, near the Kara Bridge section inward Mowe, Ogun State. Two deaths occurred at the incident scene, while the other two were upon arrival at the hospital.

The crash caused a fiery explosion that left scores stranded and paralysed movement for several hours.

The incident, which occurred around 11:00 p.m., involved five trucks, registration numbers unknown, included a mini truck laden with cartons of cracker biscuits, a fully laden heavy-duty long truck, a 40ft containerised truck, a trailer laden with sardines, and a private tow truck.

Witnesses said one of the trucks veered off the road, smashing into the bridge’s barricade before plunging into the river below, while another spilled its contents across the expressway.

Eyewitnesses described the aftermath as chaotic, with flames engulfing vehicles and commuters fleeing for safety. One of the victims, believed to be a truck occupant, was burned beyond recognition, while several others sustained injuries.

“One of the trucks veered off the road and smashed into the bridge’s barricade. Its head was severed and fell into the river,” a witness recounted.

The crash caused heavy gridlock on both sides of the expressway as some motorists drove against traffic in an attempt to escape the congestion. The traffic disruption also led to a surge in transport fares, with passengers travelling between Mowe and Berger paying between N1,500 and N2,000 for a trip that typically costs N500.

The Corridor Commander 1, Lagos-Ibadan-Egbeda Corridor of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), DCC S. D. Abdullahi, said in a travel advisory yesterday that the Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) occurred on Wednesday night, October 29, on the Kara Bridge, after Berger Bus Stop, along the Ibadan-bound carriageway.

According to him, the collision created significant obstructions, narrowing the lanes and causing a gridlock that extended to the Lagos-bound section. “Some impatient drivers have chosen to drive against the flow of traffic,” Abdullahi said, urging motorists with time-bound activities to seek alternative routes or postpone their trips.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed via its X handle on Thursday, October 30, that eight people died in the crash. “There’s a report of a multiple road crash where a truck and a container-laden trailer were in flames, another truck spilled its contents on the road.”

And a container-laden truck ran onto the barrier with its carrier falling off the bridge into the river, thereby blocking the entire road at Kara Bridge inward Mowe,” the agency said.

It added that “efforts are on top gear for recovery and evacuation of the vehicles involved,” noting that the crash caused a severe traffic backlog along Ogunnusi Road and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Olorundare Jimoh, confirmed that a police inspector was among the dead and said preliminary investigations point to possible brake failure. “We are investigating the incident. Three injured individuals have been hospitalised, and those found responsible will face prosecution,” he said.

Emergency responders, including FRSC personnel, police officers, and the Lagos State Fire Service, worked through the night to clear the wreckage and restore traffic flow.
Two accident trucks, a 40ft containerized truck and a tractor head trapped in the lagoon are yet to be recovered.

The incident occurred less than 24 hours after another truck crash on Otedola Bridge, Lagos, which involved a 14-tyre Scania truck carrying wheat and a six-tyre Iveco mini-truck loaded with cartons of sausage rolls.

The vehicles reportedly collided while contesting the right of way, resulting in one driver sustaining severe injuries.