One injured as trucks collide on Otedola Bridge, causing seven-hour gridlock
A truck driver has been hospitalised following an accident that caused a seven-hour gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday.
The collision, which occurred at the Otedola Bridge section of the expressway, involved two trucks whose drivers were reportedly contesting the right of way. One of the vehicles, loaded with wheat, spilled its contents across the road, leaving motorists stranded for hours.
Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) were reportedly seen managing the situation and coordinating efforts to remove the wreckage.
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‘Drivers were struggling for right of way’
According to The Punch, an eyewitness, Kunle Abiodun, said that the accident happened when both drivers attempted to manoeuvre their vehicles at the same time.
“The drivers were trying to contest the way with each other when they lost control and collided. One of the trucks was damaged, and one person was injured,” he said.
A motorist identified simply as Wale said the frequent accidents along the corridor are often caused by speeding and the sloping nature of the road.
“Because this road is sloping, many drivers fail to control their speed when approaching this place. I spent about two hours from Iyana-Oworo to the Secretariat bus stop,” he said.
The traffic jam extended to the Secretariat bus stop, CMD Road, and Dr Nurudeen Olowopopo Avenue.
Officials blame congestion on connecting roads
Police officers and LASTMA personnel were deployed to ease traffic flow at the scene. One LASTMA official, who asked not to be named, said vehicles connecting from Berger worsened the gridlock.
“Aside from the accident, vehicles moving into Berger and those merging from Otedola Bridge made the traffic worse,” he said.
Another motorist, Ajose, said the gridlock disrupted his schedule.
“I’m heading somewhere very important but didn’t check Google Maps before leaving. Now, I’m late and can’t turn back,” he said.
LASTMA confirms incident, blames driver recklessness
In a statement on Wednesday, LASTMA spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq confirmed that the injured driver was rescued by officials of the agency and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
“The accident, which involved a 14-tyre Scania truck laden with wheat and a six-tyre Iveco mini-truck transporting cartons of Gala sausage rolls, occurred when both vehicles engaged in a perilous contest for the right of way,” the statement read.
“The impact was violent, resulting in significant vehicular damage and severe injury to the driver of the 14-tyre truck, who sustained grievous injuries to both legs and the head.”
He added that a partial closure was necessary to allow the transloading and evacuation of the vehicles.
LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condemned the recurring recklessness of truck drivers and promised stricter enforcement of traffic laws.
“The persistent indiscipline and disregard for safety regulations must stop,” Bakare-Oki said. “LASTMA remains committed to safeguarding lives and ensuring order on Lagos roads.”
