Five Rescued as Multiple-Vehicle Crash Hits Otedola Bridge, No Fatalities Reported
Lagos, Nigeria – September 16, 2026—A serious multiple-vehicle accident at Otedola Bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway left motorists stranded for hours on Wednesday, but emergency responders successfully rescued five people with no fatalities recorded so far.
The Lagos State Police Command provided an official update confirming that five individuals were safely extracted from the wreckage.
Evacuation of the damaged vehicles is ongoing, and efforts continue to reopen the road to traffic. The Command urged motorists to remain patient, cooperate with emergency teams, and drive cautiously on the route.
What Happened at Otedola Bridge
The crash occurred just before the bridge on the inward Berger axis. According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), five vehicles were involved: a containerized truck, a loaded trailer, a truck carrying a generator, a white Honda, and a Lexus.
Preliminary findings indicate the containerized truck developed a mechanical fault while in motion, lost control, and rammed into three other vehicles.
A second truck then crashed into the pile-up from behind. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) earlier reported three trucks and a car were involved, creating a major traffic backlog that stretched as far as the toll gate.
One driver remained trapped inside a truck for a period before being freed through a coordinated effort by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Police, LASTMA, and Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).
Some victims sustained injuries of varying degrees, though no deaths had been confirmed by the time of the police update.
Swift Multi-Agency Response
LASEMA said its team arrived at the scene at 1:28 p.m., just 10 minutes after receiving the distress call. LASTMA officers were also quickly deployed for rescue, vehicle evacuation, and traffic control. Police personnel supported the operation on the ground.
Heavy recovery equipment is required to clear the articulated trucks, which were carrying substantial loads. Authorities are working to restore at least one lane of the carriageway while managing the resulting congestion.
Broader Context of Expressway Chaos
Wednesday’s incident comes barely a day after a separate multiple-vehicle crash at nearby Kara Bridge triggered prolonged gridlock on the same busy corridor.
Ongoing repair works on Kara Bridge have already reduced available road space, making the expressway highly vulnerable to any disruption.
Motorists and commuters have endured severe delays, with some previously forced to abandon vehicles and trek long distances.
Otedola Bridge has a long history of serious crashes, often involving heavy-duty trucks, mechanical failures, or loss of control on the steep gradient.
The latest accident once again highlights the urgent need for stricter vehicle inspection regimes, better enforcement of roadworthiness standards for commercial trucks, and improved infrastructure resilience on this critical economic artery.
Advice to Motorists
The Lagos Police Command and LASTMA continue to advise road users to exercise extreme caution, expect delays, and follow the instructions of emergency personnel and traffic officers.
Commuters are encouraged to plan alternative routes where possible until full clearance is achieved.
Emergency agencies remain on site coordinating recovery and traffic management operations. Further updates are expected as the situation develops.
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