Four people have been killed and one injured in a road crash along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed.
The Ogun State Command said eight people were involved in the incident. Spokesperson Afolabi Odunsin said preliminary investigations showed the crash was caused by speeding and wrongful overtaking, after the driver of a Mitsubishi Cabstar travelling at high speed rammed into a moving truck while attempting to overtake.
“Fatigue was also identified as a contributing factor, as the driver was reportedly fatigued during the journey,” Odunsin said.
Four male adults died in the crash, while another male adult sustained injuries. Three others escaped unhurt. The vehicles involved were a blue Mitsubishi Cabstar (FGE 753 XA) and an ash-coloured HOWO truck (T-695 KT).
The injured victim was taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at FOS Mortuary, Ipara. The crashed vehicles have been handed over to the Police Motor Traffic Division, Isara, for further investigation.
Sector Commander Oludare Ogunjobi urged motorists to avoid speeding, fatigue and unsafe overtaking, particularly on early-morning journeys, and advised long-distance drivers to rest adequately before travelling.
The crash occurred amid a difficult period for the corridor, which is already experiencing severe congestion linked to the Federal Government’s ongoing rehabilitation of the Kara Bridge. The two-week project, which began on September 8 and involves replacing damaged expansion joints, has reduced available road space and triggered prolonged delays between Lagos and Ogun State.
Traffic worsened significantly on Tuesday after multiple crashes around Kara Bridge, including one involving a 40-foot container-laden truck, leaving motorists trapped for more than 14 hours in some sections. The resulting gridlock stretched beyond Long Bridge towards Magboro and into Lagos.
By Wednesday morning, traffic was still moving slowly around Kara Bridge and the OPIC turning, with the backlog extending beyond Long Bridge. Commuters have complained of long hours on the road, rising transport fares and lost working hours, with some trekking long distances after becoming stranded.
The situation has heightened concerns about road safety on the corridor, where reduced capacity from the ongoing repairs means crashes or breakdowns can quickly trigger extensive gridlock. Authorities continue to deploy traffic management personnel as the bridge rehabilitation, expected to run until September 22, continues.
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