…one claiming two lives at Otedola Bridge inward Berger on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, and another leaving two persons severely injured near the UNILAG waterfront inward Lagos Island on the Third Mainland Bridge.”
LAGOS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Tragedy struck yesterday near Otedola Bridge, and on the Third Mainland Bridge as two people lost their lives and several others sustained serious injuries in multiple early-morning accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
The crashes triggered massive traffic gridlock across key routes in the state, with tailbacks stretching from Kara Bridge through Otedola Bridge and onto the Third Mainland Bridge, leaving thousands of commuters stranded during the peak morning rush.
The first fatal crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. at Otedola Bridge, inward Berger, when an unregistered car speeding at high velocity rammed into a moving, heavily-loaded trailer. The violent impact killed the two occupants of the car on the spot. Disturbingly, the trailer driver reportedly fled the scene with the vehicle to avoid possible mob attack.
A second crash occurred at about 5:00 a.m. near the UNILAG waterfront on the Third Mainland Bridge, inward Lagos Island. The incident involved an empty tanker and a sachet-water distribution van (registration number SMK 67 XH), leaving two people critically injured. The victims received immediate first aid from the Lagos State Ambulance Service before being taken to a nearby hospital.
The two accidents worsened an already heavy traffic situation, trapping motorists for hours. Many commuters were stranded at bus stops as commercial drivers inflated fares by over 100 per cent.
Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who confirmed the incidents, described both crashes as avoidable. He noted that officers of the Nigeria Police, LASTMA, and other emergency responders worked for hours to clear the wreckage and restore order.
According to Bakare-Oki, “Two separate yet equally devastating midnight accidents occurred on Monday, one claiming two lives at Otedola Bridge inward Berger on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, and another leaving two persons severely injured near the UNILAG waterfront inward Lagos Island on the Third Mainland Bridge.”
He explained that preliminary reports on the Otedola crash indicated that the unregistered car carrying two occupants was speeding excessively when it collided forcefully with the moving trailer, resulting in their instant death. LASTMA’s 24-hour night-duty teams responded swiftly to evacuate the bodies and remove the wreckage to prevent further danger.
Security support was provided by officers of Isheri Police Division, while the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SHEMU) conveyed the bodies according to safety and emergency protocols.
Speaking on the Third Mainland Bridge incident, Bakare-Oki said the crash between the empty tanker and the sachet-water van caused severe injuries to two persons, who were stabilised by LASAMBUS before being taken to a medical facility for further treatment.
Despite the distressing nature of both accidents, LASTMA officers maintained close surveillance, directing traffic and preventing secondary incidents throughout the affected corridors.
Bakare-Oki extended condolences to the bereaved families and stressed the importance of obeying speed limits, noting that compliance remains crucial to saving lives and preventing such avoidable tragedies.
