At least eight persons, including a police inspector, have lost their lives in a fatal multiple-vehicle crash that occurred in the early hours of Thursday on Kara Bridge, inward Mowe, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
The accident, which involved five articulated trucks, caused massive traffic gridlock stretching several kilometres along the busy expressway and left many motorists stranded for hours.
Confirming the incident at the crash site, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, said the accident happened around the boundary between Lagos and Ogun states.
“We have a case of multiple accidents at the border between Ogun and Lagos State,” he told journalists. “Five articulated vehicles were involved, and so far, three persons have been confirmed dead. Rescue efforts began as early as 5 a.m., and agencies including LASTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and other security bodies have been on the ground assisting.”
According to preliminary investigations, the crash was triggered by a trailer that reportedly suffered brake failure, leading to a chain collision.
“At the beginning, one of the trailers failed its brake,” Jimoh explained. “It’s a reminder that every driver must ensure their vehicle is properly maintained before hitting the road.”
The police commissioner also confirmed that one of the deceased was a police inspector attached to his advance team who was responding to the accident scene.
“It’s very unfortunate that we lost one of our men — a police inspector — who was part of our advance team deployed to manage the situation,” he said somberly.
Jimoh cautioned drivers, particularly those operating heavy-duty vehicles, against reckless driving, which he described as a major cause of fatal road accidents.
“We want road users, especially articulated vehicle drivers, to put an end to this recklessness. Many of these accidents could be avoided with more discipline and vehicle maintenance,” he added.
As of press time, joint rescue and clearance operations by the police, FRSC, LASTMA, and other emergency agencies were still ongoing, while efforts were being made to ease the heavy traffic congestion caused by the crash.