The Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed that two separate crashes struck the busy corridor within the space of six hours, both linked to the same accident-prone stretch near Kara Bridge.
Two Crashes, One Deadly Night
The first Kara Bridge crash happened at about 12:05am on the outbound lane heading towards Ibadan.
Five articulated trucks and a Toyota Sienna were involved. Seven adult males were in the vehicles at the time.
Excessive speed and loss of control triggered the pile-up, according to a statement from the FRSC Lagos Sector Public Education Officer, Elizabeth Jayeola.
One man died at the scene, another sustained injuries, while five others escaped unhurt.
Victim Trapped Beneath Truck
Recovering the deceased has proven difficult. The body remains trapped underneath one of the heavily loaded trucks involved in the Kara Bridge crash.
Heavy-duty recovery equipment is needed before evacuation can be completed, Jayeola said in the statement.
Rescue teams were still working through the wreckage as of Friday morning.
Second Kara Bridge Crash Adds to the Gridlock
While responders were still clearing the first scene, a second crash occurred at about 3:15am on the inbound carriageway towards Lagos.
This one involved a lone Mazda commercial bus. Brake failure was blamed for the loss of control.
The driver suffered serious injuries. FRSC’s emergency response team rescued him and took him to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre for treatment.
Together, the two incidents left both carriageways of the expressway badly affected, worsening what was already a difficult Friday morning commute along the Kara-Ojodu Berger corridor.
FRSC Urges Motorists to Divert
Lagos Sector Commander Kehinde Hamzat sympathised with the families of those affected by the Kara Bridge crash and appealed to motorists to remain patient.
He advised drivers travelling from Lagos towards Ibadan to divert through the Ikorodu-Sagamu route. Those heading into Lagos were told to consider the Lekki-Epe Expressway or the Ikorodu-Sagamu Expressway instead.
FRSC also renewed its call for operators of articulated vehicles and commercial buses to ensure their trucks and buses are mechanically sound before setting out on any journey.
A Notorious Trouble Spot
This is not the first time a crash has paralysed traffic at this exact location. Kara Bridge has built a grim reputation over the years as one of the deadliest points along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, with speeding trucks, overloading and brake failure repeatedly named as the leading causes.
Recovery and rescue operations from Friday’s Kara Bridge crash were continuing at the time of filing, with agencies working to clear both carriageways and restore normal traffic flow.
