Tragedy Strikes Otedola Bridge as Trailer Contest Turns Fatal

The serenity of Friday morning was shattered on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as a violent collision between two heavy-duty trailers on the Otedola Bridge claimed the life of a driver. The incident, which occurred on January 23, 2026, has once again cast a dark shadow over one of Lagos’ most notorious traffic corridors. According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the crash was the direct result of a “reckless contest for right of way” between a trailer laden with sand and another conveying granite.

Eyewitness accounts and preliminary findings suggest that the two articulated vehicles were engaged in a high-stakes struggle for dominance on the road before the forceful impact. The collision was so severe that the driver of the sand-laden trailer became trapped within the mangled remains of his cabin. Despite a swift and professional extrication effort by the LASTMA rescue team, the driver sustained fatal injuries. He was rushed by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) to the General Hospital, Ikeja, where he was tragically pronounced dead.

In a rare stroke of luck amidst the carnage, the driver of the second trailer involved in the primary collision emerged from the wreckage entirely unhurt. However, the chaos did not end there. Barely 50 meters away from the initial crash site, a third heavy-duty vehicle—this one fully loaded with flour—lost its balance and overturned. This secondary accident effectively paralyzed the expressway, with the combined wreckage obstructing nearly 80% of the busy carriageway.

The dual accidents triggered a massive multi-agency emergency response. Security operatives from the Alausa Police Division were deployed to the scene to maintain order and prevent a breakdown of law and order as commuters found themselves stranded in a gridlock that stretched back toward the Berger and Kara Bridge axis. To manage the crisis, traffic authorities were forced to implement extensive diversion measures, rerouting motorists entering Lagos through the Ojodu-Olole route to bypass the bridge.

Sola Giwa, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, expressed deep regret over the incident, describing the death as “largely preventable.” He pointed to a recurring culture of indiscipline and impatience among truck drivers as the primary catalyst for such tragedies. Giwa emphasized that the refusal to yield and the lack of mutual courtesy on the road continue to turn the state’s highways into theaters of needless loss.

The Otedola Bridge has long been a flashpoint for similar catastrophes, often involving heavy-duty trucks and tankers. While emergency responders worked tirelessly to clear the spilled flour and tow the crushed trailers, the incident served as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of Lagos road users. The state government has once again called for stricter adherence to traffic regulations, warning that the “might is right” attitude of large vehicle operators will no longer be tolerated.

As the family of the deceased driver mourns an irreparable loss, thousands of other motorists were left to navigate a day defined by exhaustion and delays. The diversion through Agidingbi, Coca-Cola, and the Secretariat allowed some movement toward Gbagada and Ojota, but the emotional and physical toll of the morning’s events lingered long after the roads were cleared. For many, this latest tragedy is a call for more than just traffic management; it is a plea for a fundamental shift in road safety culture.