Dare Babalola
A tragic multiple-truck crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has claimed the lives of eight people, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos on the busy highway.
Confirming the incident in a statement via its official X handle, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said the collision happened near Kara Bridge, outward Lagos, on Thursday morning.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the LASTMA swiftly moved to the scene to restore order and coordinate emergency response efforts.
“There’s a report of a multiple road crash involving a truck and a container-laden trailer that went up in flames. Another truck spilled its contents, cartons of biscuits, on the road, while a fourth vehicle, also a container-laden truck, ran into the barrier, causing its carrier to fall off the bridge into the river. Eight casualties have been confirmed,” the statement read.
The agency added that recovery operations were ongoing and urged motorists to exercise patience as efforts continued to clear the wreckage and reopen the affected lanes.
“Efforts are in top gear for the recovery and evacuation of the vehicles involved. There is a heavy traffic backlog on Ogunnusi Road and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. LASTMA officers and other emergency responders are on the ground managing the situation,” the statement added.
The crash triggered heavy traffic gridlock on nearby roads, with vehicles moving slowly from Berger through Ogunnusi Road and extending towards Mowe.
Emergency responders remained at the scene, working to recover the damaged truck, clear burnt vehicles, and safely reopen the highway to traffic.
