Kara Bridge crashes early Friday morning have left one person dead and two others injured on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The multiple accidents at Kara Bridge near Ojodu Berger turned a routine stretch of road into a scene of twisted metal and long queues. Motorists heading out of Lagos woke up to standstill traffic as emergency teams worked to clear the wreckage.
People who use that corridor every day know how quickly things can go wrong there. This time, the FRSC said the first crash hit around 12:05 a.m. on the outbound side towards Ibadan. Five articulated trucks and a Toyota Sienna were involved. Officials put it down to speed violation and loss of control. Seven adult men were in the vehicles. One lost his life. His body remains trapped under a heavily loaded truck, so recovery teams are waiting for heavy equipment. One other person sustained injuries while five walked away unhurt.
While rescue work was still underway, a second crash happened at about 3:15 a.m. on the inbound carriageway towards Lagos. A Mazda commercial bus suffered brake failure. The driver was seriously hurt and rushed to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre. Some reports also mentioned an earlier overturned trailer that set the stage for the pile-ups.
FRSC, LASEMA, LASTMA and police officers have been on ground since the early hours. By morning, one trailer had been towed, though spilled paint from one of the vehicles continued to slow things down. Traffic backed up as far as Otedola Bridge and spilled into Isheri-Olowora and Ogunusi Road. Officials temporarily opened one-way movement from Berger down to OPIC Turning to give people some relief.
Many drivers shared stories of long walks and cancelled plans. Some abandoned their cars and trekked from the 7-Up toll gate towards Berger. The Lagos Sector Commander, Corps Commander Kehinde Ganiyu Hamzat, expressed sympathy to the affected families and asked road users to show patience.
FRSC is advising motorists to avoid the Kara Bridge–Ojodu Berger section for now. Those going out towards Ibadan can divert through the Ikorodu-Sagamu route. People coming into Lagos should try the Lekki-Epe Expressway or the same Ikorodu-Sagamu option. Officials also reminded drivers, especially those behind heavy trucks and commercial buses, to check their brakes properly and cut down on unnecessary night journeys.
Kara Bridge has long been a trouble spot. On a Friday morning when many people need to move, these crashes have once again shown how fragile the expressway can be. Recovery continues as teams work to free the trapped body and open the full lanes.
