Four people died yesterday in a multiple accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Six vehicles were razed in the accident, which occurred around 3a.m. It was said to have been caused by a diesel-laden tanker, which went out of control and rammed into a truck carrying beer. A huge fire was ignited. The other vehicles rammed into them.
It all happened around Kara Bus Stop in Isheri Osun on the Ibadan-bound part of the ever-busy expressway.
The driver of the tanker and his “motor boys” were burnt.
A victim who dove into the lagoon in a bid to put out the fire on his body even got drowned, eyewitnesses said.
Other burnt vehicles are two containers , two trailers, the tanker and a Toyota Corolla.
As emergency workers battled to contain the Kara disaster, another petrol tanker fell at the Berger end of the Otedola Bridge. This compounded the traffic jam that had spread for as long as eyes could see —far beyond the old Lagos toll gate.
The gridlock extended to Ikorodu Road towards Maryland, forcing traffic diversion.
Although the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) insisted that only three persons died, independent sources put the casualty figure at four.
A decomposed body was found floating in the lagoon.
Scores of people were trekking long distances on the expressway because vehicular traffic was stuck for the greater part of the day. Many workers living on the outskirts of Lagos, who must travel on the expressway to get to work failed to make it.
Those seen trekking were people living in Ibafo, Mowe, Warewa, Magboro, Prayer City area and Arepo in Ogun State, working or going to Lagos.
Many travelers were stranded. Others who tried to return home got stuck in traffic.
As at yesterday afternoon, some of the vehicles were still burning on the bridge. It was around 4pm that NEMA said it had cleared the debris to allow movement of vehicles whereas officers of the FRSC cordoned off the area to prevent further losses and theft.
Also affected were those travelling to Lagos from other parts of Nigeria as well as those travelling outside Lagos.
The gridlock from the Kara Bridge, close to the popular Julius Berger Bus Stop, stretched to Asese, a few kilometers away from the Redemption Camp – as at 8 a.m.
Similarly, the queue formed by the Lagos outbound vehicles had stretched from the scene to Magodo, opposite the Lagos State Secretariat complex.
Many intending passengers who had wanted to travel to Lagos were stranded at their various bus stops because majority of the commercial buses that could have conveyed them were stuck in the traffic.
More photos below:
It is well…
Not Isheri osun o. Isheri osun is at ikotun area. There are many Isheri in Lagos