A journey along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway turned tragic after a vehicle plunged from the Long Bridge near Mikano, leaving three female adults dead and 10 others injured in a multiple-vehicle crash.
The accident occurred at about 5:24 p.m. near Mikano on the Long Bridge, inward Lagos, according to the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency.
TRACE spokesperson, Babatunde Akinbiyi, said three vehicles were involved in the crash: a white Toyota bus with registration number KJA 247 YM, a white Toyota Corolla marked BDG 867 HG, and a white Mazda bus with registration number AGL 891 XX.
Sixteen people were reportedly involved in the accident. While three female adults died in the crash, 10 other victims sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Preliminary eyewitness accounts attributed the incident to excessive speed and loss of control. However, the exact circumstances surrounding the crash are expected to form part of further investigations by the relevant authorities.
Following the incident, emergency responders moved swiftly to evacuate the victims and secure the area. Personnel from TRACE, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the police and the Ogun State Ambulance and Emergency Service participated in the rescue operation.
The injured victims were subsequently taken to various hospitals for medical attention, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at morgues in Ifo and Sagamu.
The three vehicles involved in the crash were recovered from the scene and taken to the Warewa Police Station to assist with further investigation into the circumstances of the accident.
Traffic movement was temporarily affected as emergency teams worked to clear the scene and evacuate the damaged vehicles. Normal traffic flow was later restored.
The latest incident once again highlights the risks associated with speed and loss of vehicle control on major highways, where crashes can quickly escalate into multiple casualties.
Authorities are expected to continue investigating the incident and determine the circumstances that led to the vehicle plunging from the bridge.
