The busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was thrown into chaos early Thursday morning after a horrific multiple-truck collision on the Kara Bridge claimed at least eight lives and left hundreds of motorists stranded in a gridlock that extended several kilometres into Lagos.
The fatal crash, which occurred around 6:29 a.m. on the outbound section of the expressway, involved no fewer than six articulated vehicles. Witnesses said one of the trucks, a 14-tyre vehicle, collided with a container-laden lorry, igniting a fierce fire that quickly spread across the bridge.
Another truck, reportedly conveying cartons of biscuits, spilled its entire load onto the highway, while one more vehicle rammed into the bridge barrier, sending its cabin plunging into the nearby river.
The collision and resulting fire caused panic among early morning commuters, with smoke billowing over the expressway and traffic grinding to a halt. Rescue teams from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Police Force swiftly arrived at the scene to recover the bodies and coordinate efforts to clear the wreckage.
By mid-morning, the traffic gridlock had stretched from the Kara Bridge through Ojodu-Berger and up to Ogunnusi Road, trapping scores of motorists and commuters for hours.
As of press time, emergency responders were still conducting recovery operations and clearing debris from the affected section, while authorities urged drivers to exercise patience and use alternative routes.
The cause of the crash had yet to be officially confirmed, though eyewitnesses cited speeding and poor visibility as possible factors in one of the deadliest road incidents in recent weeks.
