Commuters in Lagos had a hard time getting to their destinations on Friday owing to a standstill after multiple crashes on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
One person was killed, another was injured in the accidents on both sides of Kara Bridge in the early hours of Friday, prompting emergency response operations that disrupted traffic along the expressway and several adjoining roads.
The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, said recovery efforts were still ongoing as of this morning.
The FRSC confirmed that the first crash occurred at about 12:05 a.m. on the outbound carriageway toward Ibadan. It involved five articulated trucks and a Toyota Sienna.
According to the agency’s preliminary investigation, the crash was caused by speeding and loss of control. Seven adult males were involved. One person died, one sustained injury, while five others escaped unharmed.
The FRSC said the deceased’s body remained trapped beneath one of the heavily loaded trucks, requiring the deployment of heavy-duty recovery equipment before it could be evacuated.
While rescue and recovery operations were underway, a second crash occurred at about 3:15 a.m. on the inbound carriageway toward Lagos.
The lone crash involved a Mazda commercial bus and was attributed to brake failure. The driver sustained serious injuries and was rescued by the FRSC emergency response team before being taken to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre for treatment.
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The incidents triggered severe traffic congestion that extended for several kilometres on both sides of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and spilled onto surrounding roads.
Areas affected include Oba Ogunji Road, Alausa Secretariat, CMD Road and Magodo in Lagos State, as well as Channels TV Road and Isheri in Ogun State.
In a statement issued early this morning, the FRSC said its rescue teams, alongside the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, and other emergency responders, were working to evacuate the crashed vehicles, recover the trapped victim, clear the obstruction and restore the free flow of traffic.
Lagos Sector Commander, Corps Commander Kehinde Ganiyu Hamzat, sympathized with the families of the victims and urged motorists to remain patient, exercise caution and cooperate with traffic management officials around the affected corridor.
The FRSC advised motorists travelling from Lagos toward Ibadan to use the Ikorodu-Sagamu route, while those heading into Lagos were encouraged to consider the Lekki-Epe Expressway or the Ikorodu-Sagamu Expressway as alternative routes.
The agency also urged motorists, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles and commercial buses, to ensure their vehicles are mechanically fit before embarking on any journey, with special attention to braking systems.
It further advised drivers to avoid unnecessary night travel, especially in conditions of poor visibility caused by darkness, rain or fog. Where night travel is unavoidable, motorists should reduce speed, maintain a safe following distance, avoid dangerous overtaking and rest whenever they feel fatigued.
The FRSC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety of road users and said it would continue working with relevant emergency and traffic management agencies to restore normal traffic flow as quickly as possible.
Crediblenewsng.com
