2 Dead, Commuters Stranded in Otedola, 3MB Accidents

Two individuals lost their lives early Monday morning following multiple crashes on Lagos roads. Several others sustained critical injuries during the incidents.

The accidents involved heavy-duty vehicles on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Third Mainland Bridge. Consequently, the crashes caused severe gridlock stretching from Kara Bridge through the Otedola Bridge axis.

Fatal Crash at Otedola Bridge

The first incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. at Otedola Bridge, heading inward Berger. Reports indicate that an unregistered vehicle was traveling at a dangerous speed. It rammed into a moving, fully loaded trailer.

The violent impact killed both occupants of the car instantly. However, in a disturbing development, the driver of the articulated truck reportedly fled the scene immediately after the collision.

Injuries on Third Mainland Bridge

A second crash occurred approximately two hours later, around 5:00 a.m.. This happened near the University of Lagos waterfront on the Third Mainland Bridge.

This collision involved an empty fuel tanker and a sachet-water delivery van. Two people sustained severe injuries. The Lagos State Ambulance Service provided immediate first aid. Afterward, they rushed the victims to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.

Commuter Woes and Official Response

These accidents worsened an already difficult traffic situation. Vehicles backed up from Kara to the Island. Thousands of commuters were left stranded at bus stops. Meanwhile, commercial transport operators capitalized on the situation by doubling their fares.

Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the General Manager of LASTMA, confirmed the casualties. He described the incidents as preventable tragedies. Emergency responders, including the Nigeria Police and LASTMA, worked for hours to manage traffic. They successfully evacuated the bodies and cleared the wreckage to restore movement.

A Recurring Issue

These incidents follow a similar collision in October. That crash occurred along the Otedola Bridge corridor and involved two heavy-duty vehicles. Officials attributed that accident to drivers competing aggressively for the right of way.