A trailer driver was killed in an accident that happened early on Friday at the Otedola Bridge stretch of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, according to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.
The consequent bottleneck has spread to the Kara axis of the highway, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps’ Ogun State Sector Command.
Heavy-duty vehicles were involved in the dual disaster, as PUNCH Online has previously reported.
LASTMA spokeswoman Adebayo Taofiq confirmed the driver’s death in a statement on Friday, stating that a violent collision was the cause of the death.
“Earlier today at Otedola Bridge, inward Secretariat, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, a tragic road traffic catastrophe involving multiple articulated vehicles occurred, temporarily crippling vehicular movement and prompting an urgent, well-coordinated, multi-agency emergency intervention,” he said.
The main incident was a violent collision between two heavy-duty trailers, one carrying granite and the other carrying sand, which was allegedly brought on by a careless dispute over right of way.
“The driver of the sand-filled trailer was trapped as a result of the forceful impact, which had disastrous consequences. He suffered fatal injuries and was later confirmed dead.”
He also mentioned that Ikeja General Hospital had received the deceased driver’s body.
Additionally, Taofiq attested to the fact that a second collision happened not far from the first.
“Security personnel from the Alausa Police Division were quickly sent to the scene to provide security, manage crowd control, and support ongoing rescue and recovery operations in order to prevent a breakdown of law and order and ensure public safety.”
When taken as a whole, the incidents blocked around 80% of the highway, necessitating the adoption of substantial traffic control and diversion measures. In order to facilitate continuing travel towards Gbagada or Ojota with the least amount of inconvenience, drivers heading inward from the Mowe, Kara Bridge, and Redemption Camp axis were rerouted along the Ojodu–Olole road, which connected Agidingbi, Coca-Cola, Secretariat, and 7-Up,” he stated.
Afolabi Odunsi, a spokesperson for the FRSC Ogun Sector Command, confirmed the protracted bottleneck in a statement, attributing it to the Otedola Bridge collision and the continuing maintenance of the Kara Bridge expansion joints.
“We are seeing traffic congestion between Otedola Bridge and Warewa through Kara and Long Bridge,” he stated. The RTC on Otedola Bridge is the main cause of the issue, which is made worse by Kara Bridge’s current expansion joint reinstallation.
“Operatives from the FRSC and other agencies are on the scene attempting to tow the damaged cars off the road. To alleviate the issue, additional workers have been strategically positioned along the motorway to handle traffic.
