Several people trapped in a multiple-vehicle crash at Otedola Bridge, Lagos, were rescued alive on Wednesday as the accident caused fresh gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The crash occurred shortly before the bridge inward Berger and involved five vehicles, including three trucks, a white Honda and a Lexus.
Some of those involved sustained varying degrees of injuries and were taken for medical attention.
The rescue operation was carried out by personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the police, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Lagos State Ambulance Service.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency said its response team arrived at the scene at 1:28 p.m., 10 minutes after receiving a distress call.
It identified the vehicles involved as a containerised truck, a loaded trailer, a truck carrying a generator, a white Honda and a Lexus.
According to LASEMA, preliminary findings showed that the containerised truck developed a mechanical fault while in motion, lost control and rammed into three vehicles before another truck crashed into them from behind.
The agency said all trapped victims were rescued alive and given first aid at the scene before being conveyed to the Trauma Centre for further treatment.
Recovery operations were ongoing, with private towing trucks and a crane deployed to remove the damaged vehicles and restore traffic flow.
LASTMA also said its officers were immediately deployed for rescue, evacuation and traffic control, adding that the crash caused a backlog extending to the Toll Gate.
The incident came barely a day after another multiple-vehicle crash at Kara Bridge worsened the already severe traffic situation on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
On Tuesday, a 40-foot container-laden truck reportedly developed a mechanical fault and crashed into several vehicles at Kara Bridge.
Seven vehicles were involved in the incident, which occurred amid ongoing repairs to the bridge’s expansion joints.
The resulting gridlock stretched beyond the Long Bridge towards Magboro and into Lagos, leaving motorists and commuters stranded for several hours.
One transporter, Ibrahim, described the situation as “very, very serious”, particularly between Mowe and Berger.
“From Mowe to Berger now? Two persons is 8,000 Naira,” he said, referring to his motorcycle fare being charged for two passengers.
Another commuter said he had been stuck for about two hours after leaving Bagada around 6:30 a.m. before resorting to trekking after failing to get a bus.
“Some drivers are sleeping on the side because there’s no movement,” he said.
A separate commuter travelling to Aba said the congestion forced him to spend the night inside his vehicle.
“In Ikeja, we slept there since 3 a.m. We slept there till this morning,” he said.
Another motorist said he entered the traffic from Apapa at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday and remained trapped for hours.
“I’ve been in this traffic since 10 o’clock in the night yesterday. I’m coming from Apapa. I entered the traffic at Anthony, around 10, maybe like 15 minutes after 10,” he said.
The Federal Government commenced repairs on the expansion joints at Kara Bridge on September 8, reducing available road space and further putting pressure on the busy corridor.
With the Otedola crash adding another obstruction, motorists heading towards Berger and the Lagos end of the expressway are expected to experience further delays while recovery operations continue.
Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution and cooperate with traffic management officials at the affected sections.
