Thousands of motorists were left stranded on Friday as multiple road crashes caused severe gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, disrupting movement along the Kara Bridge section of the busy highway.
The congestion followed accidents recorded on both the outbound and inbound carriageways of the expressway in the early hours of Friday, leaving commuters stuck for hours as emergency responders worked to clear the affected areas.
The crashes claimed one life and left two others injured, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), which advised motorists to avoid the Kara-Ojodu Berger corridor until recovery operations were concluded.
The Lagos Sector Public Education Officer of the FRSC, Elizabeth Jayeola, confirmed that rescue and recovery efforts were ongoing, adding that traffic officials had been deployed to manage the situation.
Multiple crashes cause traffic chaos
The FRSC said the first crash occurred at about 12:05 a.m. on the outbound lane of the expressway towards Ibadan.
The accident involved five articulated trucks and a Toyota Sienna, with preliminary investigations indicating that excessive speed and loss of control contributed to the collision.
A total of seven adult males were involved in the crash. One person died, one sustained injuries, while five others escaped without injuries.
The corps explained that recovery efforts were delayed as the body of the deceased remained trapped beneath one of the heavily loaded trucks, requiring heavy-duty equipment for evacuation.
Second accident worsens congestion
While emergency responders were attending to the first crash, another accident occurred around 3:15 a.m. on the inbound carriageway towards Lagos.
The second incident involved a Mazda commercial bus and was attributed to brake failure.
The driver sustained serious injuries and was rescued by FRSC officials before being taken to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre for medical treatment.
The additional crash further compounded the traffic situation as emergency teams worked simultaneously on multiple incidents along the expressway.
FRSC diverts motorists
The FRSC said its rescue team, alongside officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other emergency responders, was working to remove the damaged vehicles, recover the trapped victim and restore normal traffic movement.
Lagos Sector Commander Kehinde Hamzat sympathised with the families of the victims and appealed to motorists to remain patient while traffic officials managed the situation.
He advised motorists travelling from Lagos towards Ibadan to use the Ikorodu-Sagamu route as an alternative, while those heading into Lagos were encouraged to consider the Lekki-Epe Expressway or Ikorodu-Sagamu Expressway.
Drivers urged to ensure vehicle fitness
The FRSC urged motorists, especially operators of articulated trucks and commercial buses, to ensure their vehicles are properly maintained before embarking on journeys.
The corps stressed that compliance with speed limits, regular vehicle checks and adherence to road safety regulations were necessary to reduce crashes and prevent avoidable disruptions on major highways.