Hundreds of motorists were left stranded for hours on Wednesday after a truck crash caused a major traffic gridlock along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The accident occurred around the Kara Bridge axis, disrupting traffic for commuters travelling from Lagos towards Ogun State. While vehicles heading into Lagos moved with little difficulty, those travelling towards Magboro, Ibafo and Mowe experienced lengthy delays as traffic stretched for several kilometres.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said traffic was temporarily halted to allow emergency responders to recover the overturned truck and clear the roadway. The agency noted that the congestion extended beyond the New Garage area before normal movement gradually resumed.
According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the crash happened at about 3 a.m. when a 40-foot trailer loaded with bags of flour overturned after hitting the side rail of Kara Bridge.
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Preliminary investigations indicated that the truck was overloaded, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Although no lives were lost, the driver sustained serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Emergency responders transferred the truck’s cargo into another trailer before moving the damaged vehicle to a nearby lay-by. Officials said a heavy-duty crane would be needed to complete the recovery due to the extent of the damage.
The operation involved LASEMA, LASTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), and the Nigeria Police Force, which worked together to restore the free flow of traffic.
LASEMA urged haulage operators to comply with approved load limits and road safety regulations to reduce the risk of similar accidents on major highways.
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