Four people have been killed and another injured in a road crash along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Ogun State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the incident, saying eight people were involved in the crash.
Afolabi Odunsin, the command’s spokesperson, said preliminary investigations showed that speeding and wrongful overtaking caused the crash.
According to him, the driver of a Mitsubishi Cabstar, which was travelling at high speed, rammed into a moving truck while attempting to overtake.
“Fatigue was also identified as a contributing factor, as the driver was reportedly fatigued during the journey,” Odunsin said.
The FRSC said four male adults died in the crash, while another male adult sustained injuries. Three other occupants escaped unhurt.
The vehicles involved were a blue Mitsubishi Cabstar and an ash-coloured HOWO truck.
Odunsin said the injured victim was rescued and taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, for medical treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the FOS Mortuary, Ipara.
He added that the vehicles involved had been handed over to the Police Motor Traffic Division, Isara Division, for further investigation and necessary action.
The Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists to avoid speeding, fatigue and unsafe overtaking, particularly during early-morning journeys.
He also advised motorists embarking on long-distance trips to get adequate rest before setting out and to overtake only when it is safe and permissible.
Crash occurs amid Kara Bridge gridlock
The fatal crash occurred as motorists on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway continue to grapple with severe congestion caused by ongoing repairs on the Kara Bridge.
The Federal Government began a two-week rehabilitation of the bridge on September 8, including the replacement of damaged expansion joints. The work has reduced the available road space and caused prolonged delays for motorists travelling between Lagos and Ogun states.
The traffic situation deteriorated further on Tuesday following multiple crashes around the Kara Bridge, including one involving a 40-foot container-laden truck.
The incidents compounded the restrictions created by the bridge repairs, with some motorists reportedly spending more than 14 hours in traffic.
The resulting gridlock stretched beyond Long Bridge towards Magboro and into Lagos, while some stranded commuters resorted to trekking or seeking alternative means of transportation.
Traffic was still moving slowly around the Kara Bridge and OPIC turning on Wednesday morning, with the backlog extending beyond Long Bridge, according to traffic updates.
The prolonged congestion has also prompted complaints from commuters over long travel times, increased transport fares and lost working hours.
The reduced road capacity resulting from the ongoing repairs has heightened concerns about safety along the busy corridor, where crashes or broken-down vehicles can quickly worsen traffic congestion.
Authorities have continued to deploy traffic management personnel to the corridor as efforts continue to maintain movement and minimise the impact of the rehabilitation work.
The Federal Government has said the Kara Bridge repairs are expected to be completed by September 22.
