By Peter Omopo
A tragic multiple-truck collision on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway claimed at least eight lives on Thursday morning, causing chaos and massive gridlock around the Kara Bridge, outward Lagos.
The deadly crash, which occurred near the Berger axis, involved several heavy-duty trucks. Eyewitnesses said one of the vehicles plunged into the Kara River, while two others collided and burst into flames, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky.
The inferno triggered panic among motorists and commuters, forcing many to abandon their vehicles as traffic ground to a halt on the busy highway.
Emergency responders from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Nigeria Police Force, and firefighters quickly arrived at the scene to restore order and carry out rescue operations.
Television footage aired by TVC News showed rescue teams battling to extinguish the flames and recover bodies from the mangled wreckage.
Confirming the incident, LASTMA said via its official X handle that eight people were confirmed dead.
“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 agency stated.
LASTMA added that recovery operations were ongoing, urging motorists to remain patient while the affected lanes were being cleared.
“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 read.
As of press time, emergency officials were still working to remove the burnt vehicles and recover the truck that plunged into the river, while traffic congestion extended from Berger through Ogunnusi Road toward Mowe.
The accident adds to a growing list of fatal crashes on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, one of Nigeria’s busiest highways, often plagued by speeding, mechanical failures, and poor vehicle maintenance.
