At least eight people have been confirmed dead after a multiple-truck collision on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway near Kara Bridge, outward Lagos, on Thursday morning.
The fatal crash, which occurred around the Berger axis, involved several heavy-duty trucks and caused a massive traffic gridlock on the busy highway.
Eyewitnesses reported that one of the trucks plunged into the Kara River, while two others collided and burst into flames, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky and sparking panic among motorists.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) promptly arrived at the scene to coordinate rescue efforts and restore order.
Television footage aired by TVC News showed firefighters battling to extinguish the flames as emergency responders recovered victims from the wreckage.
Confirming the incident in a statement posted on its official X handle, LASTMA said eight fatalities were recorded in the crash.
“There’s a report of a multiple road crash involving a truck and a container-laden trailer that went up in flames. Another truck spilled its contents—cartons of biscuits—on the road, while a fourth vehicle, also a container-laden truck, ran into the barrier, causing its carrier to fall off the bridge into the river. Eight casualties have been confirmed,” the statement read.
The agency added that recovery operations were still ongoing and urged motorists to remain patient while emergency crews cleared the wreckage and reopened affected lanes.
“Efforts are in top gear for the recovery and evacuation of the vehicles involved. There is a heavy traffic backlog on Ogunnusi Road and the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. LASTMA officers and other emergency responders are on the ground managing the situation,” the statement added.
The crash led to severe traffic congestion on adjoining routes, with movement crawling from Berger through Ogunnusi Road and stretching toward Mowe. As of press time, emergency personnel were still on-site to remove the burnt vehicles and recover the truck that plunged into the river to ensure the safe reopening of the highway.
