Lagos–Ibadan Expressway Archives

The Ogun and Lagos State governments have confirmed that British-Nigerian heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, and another survivor of Monday’s road accident on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway are currently receiving medical care at a specialised hospital in Lagos.

In a joint statement issued by Commissioner, Information, Lagos State, Gbenga Omotosho, and Special Adviser, Information, Ogun State, Kayode Akinmade, on Monday, the two state governments said the accident involved a vehicle conveying Joshua and three others, which collided with a stationary truck, resulting in two fatalities.

“The vehicle conveying the team of four ran into a stationary truck, resulting in two fatalities,” the statement said.

The governments expressed sympathy with the families of those who lost their lives in the incident and assured the public that investigations were underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.

“We sympathise with the families of those involved in the accident, and pray that God will grant them the strength to go through this difficult time,” the statement added.

According to the statement, Joshua and another passenger were immediately evacuated from the scene to a specialised medical facility in Lagos, where they underwent several clinical assessments.

“Anthony Joshua and another passenger were immediately evacuated to a specialised facility in Lagos.

“Doctors have conducted several clinical assessments and have confirmed that both patients are stable and do not require any emergency interventions at this time,” the governments said.

It added that a comprehensive medical team had been convened to closely monitor their condition.

“Anthony Joshua has since been relating well with his family,” the statement noted.

The governments of both states said they were closely monitoring the situation to ensure that the injured persons receive optimal medical attention.

“The governments of Ogun and Lagos are keenly monitoring the situation and will ensure that the two persons receive the best medical care,” the statement said, while also noting that investigations into the crash had commenced.

The authorities also appealed for privacy for the boxer and his family. “We appreciate the public’s concern and ask for privacy for Anthony Joshua and his family during this time,” the statement said.

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the accident occurred shortly after 11am on Monday at Makun, Ogun State, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. (Punch)

A yet-to-be-identified driver was killed on Sunday afternoon after a 40-foot container-laden truck fell onto a commercial Nissan Micra car at the Soka area along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

The tragic incident, which occurred around 2 p.m., involved a trailer loaded with bales of clothing and a Micra taxi with registration number BDJ 981 ZY. The impact crushed the car, trapping the driver inside.

When our correspondent arrived at the scene around 4 p.m., officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigeria Police, and the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority were on the ground making efforts to remove the wreckage and retrieve the body of the deceased driver.

Our correspondent, who monitored the incident, observed that the car was pinned under the tail section of the truck, with one of the rescuers using a machete to cut through parts of the vehicle to reach the victim’s remains.

An eyewitness, identified as Yusuf, blamed the accident on concrete barricades left on the road by contractors after completing repairs in the area.

He said, “The accident happened around 2 p.m. when it was still raining. The trailer was coming from Lagos inward Ibadan. When it got to this point, the driver tried to dodge those big concrete barriers placed on the road during construction. In the process, he hit the Micra. I think he tried to regain balance, but that was when the truck fell, trapping the driver.

They finished this road a long time ago; those barriers shouldn’t still be there.”

A FRSC officer at the scene, who spoke on condition of anonymity, corroborated the eyewitness account.

“This is how we met the accident. From what we can see, the trailer swerved to avoid the barrier, hit the Micra, dragged it off the road, and eventually fell on it,” the officer said.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro on the incident, the General Manager of OYTMA, Adeoye Adekola, confirmed the driver’s death.

“I just left the scene. We have removed the corpse and deposited it at the Adeoyo Hospital, Ring Road. The container, fully loaded with clothes, is still there, but we have detached the truck from the container and moved it to Sanyo Police Station,” Adekola said.

He identified impatience, speeding, and the lack of reflectors on the road barriers as major causes of the crash.

“There are two major factors, impatience and speeding by the drivers, and the construction barriers without reflectors. Before the truck driver noticed the barrier, it was already too late. He tried to swerve, but there was a Micra parked to pick up a passenger. In an attempt to avoid it, the truck overturned, crushing the Micra. The driver was the only occupant, and he died on the spot.

“The traffic situation has now been cleared, and vehicles are moving smoothly,” Adekola added.

The incident caused heavy traffic congestion along the busy route for several hours before normalcy was restored.

The latest crash has again raised concerns about the frequency of accidents at the Soka junction of the Ibadan Expressway.

In June, five people were killed and several others injured when seven vehicles, including two Nissan Micra taxis, two trucks, a tanker, and two Toyota Camry cars, were involved in a multiple collision at the same spot.

Barely a week later, another accident occurred, claiming the life of a driver whose car rammed into a stationary trailer left behind from the earlier crash. (Punch)

Tag: Lagos–Ibadan Expressway

Anthony Joshua stable in Lagos hospital after fatal crash

Driver killed as 40ft container falls on car in Oyo