In the early hours of Monday, chaos struck once again on the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as a private vehicle veered off the Otedola Bridge and plunged to the ground below, leaving behind a scene of twisted metal, shattered glass, and shaken commuters.
The vehicle, reportedly carrying four passengers, crashed off the bridge under still-unclear circumstances. Eyewitnesses described the incident as “horrific,” recounting how the vehicle somersaulted mid-air before landing with a heavy thud.
Miraculously, the driver survived the fall and was promptly rescued by first responders. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. The condition of the other occupants remains unclear, though all reportedly sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Confirming the incident in a statement on its official X handle (formerly Twitter), the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said:
“Report of an accident of a car that fell from Otedola Bridge. The driver has been rescued and taken to the nearby hospital.”
As news of the crash spread, a major traffic backlog quickly developed, stretching from the bridge through Berger and inward Secretariat. LASTMA officers were swiftly deployed to the scene to control the gridlock and ensure road users were guided safely through the bottleneck.
The agency added that its personnel were “on ground doing the needful” to clear the debris and manage the scene efficiently.
This latest incident adds to a growing list of tragedies associated with the Otedola Bridge. Just weeks ago, the same location witnessed a deadly explosion after a gas-laden tanker keeled over and erupted in flames underneath the bridge. That inferno claimed two lives, left six others injured, and destroyed surrounding properties including a church, a residential building, and a mechanic yard.
The recurrence of accidents at the Otedola axis has sparked renewed concerns among residents and commuters, who are now questioning the safety infrastructure of one of Lagos’ busiest traffic corridors.
Experts are calling on relevant authorities to intensify road safety inspections, implement stricter enforcement of speed regulations, and install reinforced barriers on bridges to prevent similar occurrences.
For now, the scars on the asphalt and the rattled hearts of Lagosians remain—yet another stark reminder of the fragile thread between life and disaster on Nigeria’s roads.
