A tragic accident involving multiple trucks and vehicles on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway has claimed the life of a police inspector and several others in the early hours of Wednesday. The crash occurred near Kara Bridge, a notorious black spot on the busy highway.
According to reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the incident happened around 6:44 a.m. when a Volvo truck with registration number FKJ 484 YA, fully loaded with goods, lost control and rammed into a Mercedes bus before colliding with a Toyota Hiace with plate number BWR 371 XC.
The police inspector, attached to MOPOL 20 Division, was reportedly riding his motorcycle to work when he was caught in the crash and crushed under one of the vehicles. Emergency responders confirmed he died on the spot, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“It was a chaotic scene. The truck driver seemed to have lost his brakes while descending the bridge, and it just kept going,” said an eyewitness who identified himself as Tunde.
LASEMA operatives and traffic officers swiftly moved in to clear the wreckage, deploying heavy-duty recovery equipment to extricate trapped victims and restore movement on the expressway. The operation caused a massive traffic gridlock stretching several kilometres toward Berger.
Officials say investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash, with mechanical failure, brake malfunction, and driver fatigue among the suspected factors.
Authorities have urged motorists, particularly truck drivers, to ensure proper maintenance of their vehicles before embarking on long-distance trips, warning that failure to comply will attract stiff penalties.
