At least one passenger tragically lost his life, while nine others sustained severe injuries in a fatal accident that occurred in the inward New Garage axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Saturday morning, leaving behind a trail of sorrow and panic among witnesses at the scene.
According to an official statement issued by the Spokesman of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Route Commander Oluwadamilola Jayeola, on Sunday, the incident happened around 6:55 a.m. The crash involved two vehicles: a white Iveco truck with registration number MEK 34 XC and a white Toyota commercial bus with registration number ENU 814 XJ. Both vehicles were badly damaged in the collision.
Jayeola further disclosed that officers of the Motor Traffic Division of the Police, Ojodu Abiodun Division, have already taken custody of the two vehicles to aid ongoing investigations and to ensure accountability for the tragic occurrence.
Providing more details, she explained: “Sadly, one male passenger lost his life instantly at the scene of the accident. Nine others, consisting of eight male passengers and one female passenger, sustained varying degrees of serious injuries. Unfortunately, no single passenger escaped the accident unhurt.”
She added that the FRSC rescue team responded promptly within minutes of receiving the distress call. The injured victims were evacuated and rushed to the Emergency Centre in Ojota and the Gbagada General Hospital for urgent medical attention. Meanwhile, the deceased passenger was deposited at the Real Divine Hospital Mortuary in Ibafo, where his identity will be confirmed by family members.
Jayeola further confirmed that the wreckage was cleared quickly by officers at the scene to avoid prolonged gridlock on the usually busy expressway. As a result, normal traffic flow was restored shortly after the incident. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the crash was primarily caused by speeding and road obstruction, with both factors playing significant roles in the fatal outcome.
The FRSC Spokesperson reiterated the Corps’ continuous appeal to road users to obey traffic laws, avoid reckless driving, and maintain safe speed limits to prevent similar tragedies in the future. She emphasized that many lives could have been saved if caution had been taken by drivers while navigating the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which remains one of the busiest and accident-prone highways in the country.