A Police Inspector was reportedly among four persons who were feared dead on Thursday (today) after a multiple-vehicle crash involving five articulated trucks on Kara Bridge, inward Mowe, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Reports obtained by Naija News revealed that the officer involved is attached to the Lagos State Police Command.
Confirming the tragic incident, the State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, who visited the crash site, described the incident as tragic, noting that emergency response teams had worked from the early hours of the morning to rescue victims and clear the wreckage.
“It’s very unfortunate that we lost one of our police inspectors who came with our advance team to salvage the situation,” the PUNCH quoted Jimoh lamenting.
The commissioner explained that preliminary investigations revealed the crash was triggered by a trailer that suffered brake failure.
“At the beginning, we have a trailer that failed to brake, and it is important that everybody in charge of their vehicle ensures proper maintenance,” Jimoh said.
According to him, the accident occurred at the border between Ogun and Lagos State and involved five articulated trucks.
“We have a case of multiple accidents at the border between Ogun and Lagos State. Five vehicles were involved, all articulated vehicles. Precisely, three people have been rescued from the scene of the accident,” he added.
The Lagos police boss disclosed that emergency agencies mobilised swiftly to the scene.
“As early as 5 a.m., we have been on it, and we have other agencies here assisting us. We have LASTMA, the Road Safety Corps, and other security agencies,” Jimoh stated.
As of press time, joint rescue operations involving the police, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and other security agencies were still ongoing.
Efforts were also underway to remove the damaged vehicles and restore normal traffic flow along the busy expressway.
Jimoh used the opportunity to caution motorists, especially drivers of articulated vehicles, against reckless driving on highways.
“We want road users, especially those driving articulated vehicles, to stop this kind of recklessness. If they are not reckless in their driving habit, we won’t have this kind of accident,” he warned.
He stressed that many fatal accidents could be avoided if drivers ensured proper vehicle maintenance and adhered strictly to safety regulations while on the highways.
