Kara Bridge Chaos as 40ft Truck Loses Brakes, Second Crash Sends Lagos Traffic Back to New Garage
Two crashes hit the Kara Bridge corridor within minutes as ongoing repair works narrow the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and worsen Tuesday morning gridlock.
A 40-foot container truck reportedly suffered brake failure at Kara Bridge while a second trailer crash hit the same corridor, worsening traffic already affected by ongoing bridge repairs.
Two crashes were reported within minutes of each other along the Kara Bridge corridor of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on Tuesday morning, September 15, triggering severe traffic congestion and sending the queue back toward New Garage.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) reported the first incident at about 7:05 a.m., saying a 40-foot container truck suffered brake failure at the exit of Kara Bridge in the Ojodu Berger area.
According to LASTMA, the truck rammed into demarcation blocks and collided with other vehicles. Recovery operations were subsequently deployed to remove the affected vehicles and restore traffic flow.
By the time of the agency’s initial report, traffic congestion had already stretched as far back as New Garage.
A second crash was subsequently reported on Kara Bridge inward Mowe, where a loaded trailer collided with an SUV. LASTMA officials and police officers were deployed to the scene as authorities worked to clear the wreckage.
The incidents were also reported by Lagos Traffic Radio 96.1FM, although early accounts differed over the exact vehicles involved.
The station reported that an articulated truck rammed into five other vehicles at Kara inward OPIC, with police called to assess the situation. It also reported a separate lone crash involving a truck loaded with iron rods following an apparent brake failure.
Video footage circulated by a local community page also showed what appeared to be a multiple-vehicle collision on Kara Bridge toward Magboro, while commuters reported that parts of the route from Iyanaoworo toward Berger had become blocked.
As of mid-morning, no official agency had confirmed deaths or injuries linked to Tuesday’s crashes. LASTMA’s initial alerts did not report any casualties, although the situation could change following further assessment by the police and other emergency responders.
The crashes occurred as the Kara–Berger corridor is already operating under difficult conditions because of ongoing federal repair work.
Replacement of damaged expansion joints on the Kara–Berger Bridge began on September 8 and is scheduled to continue until September 22. Lane closures and temporary barriers have narrowed the available carriageway, contributing to recurring congestion around Kara, Berger, Otedola, Ogunnusi and New Garage.
Lagos Traffic Radio reported that work on the remaining two lanes was still ongoing on Tuesday morning when the crashes occurred.
The combination of restricted lanes and heavy commercial traffic means that a single disabled or crashed truck can quickly create long queues along the corridor, particularly during the morning rush hour.
Kara Bridge remains a critical link for motorists travelling between Lagos, Ojodu Berger, OPIC, Mowe and other parts of the Lagos–Ibadan corridor.
Motorists travelling through the area were advised to exercise caution, avoid the affected sections where possible and monitor updates from LASTMA, TRACE, the Federal Road Safety Corps and Lagos Traffic Radio while recovery operations continue.
The exact circumstances surrounding the crashes, including the number of vehicles involved and whether anyone was injured, are expected to become clearer after authorities complete their assessment of the scenes.
