In a heart-stopping incident that occurred yesterday evening, a vehicle plunged from the notorious Otedola Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, with emergency responders successfully rescuing the driver in a delicate operation, KIIN360 reports.
Eyewitnesses described the terrifying moment when the vehicle, identified as a Toyota Corolla, veered off the bridge and crashed several meters below. The accident, which happened around 7:30 PM during the evening rush hour, drew immediate attention from other road users who quickly alerted emergency services.
“I was driving just behind when I saw the car swerve suddenly and break through the barrier. It was horrifying to watch,” said Kunle Adebayo, one of the first witnesses at the scene. “Several of us immediately stopped and rushed down to see if we could help before the emergency teams arrived.”
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) response team arrived promptly at the location, working alongside officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Lagos State Fire Service in a coordinated rescue effort. According to LASEMA’s spokesperson, the driver was found conscious but trapped inside the severely damaged vehicle.
“Our rescue team had to utilize specialized equipment to access the trapped victim. The operation was challenging due to the vehicle’s position and the risk of further movement,” the LASEMA official stated. “After approximately 45 minutes of careful extraction work, we successfully rescued the driver.”
The victim, whose identity has been withheld, sustained multiple injuries but was reported to be in stable condition after receiving immediate medical attention at the scene. He was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital for comprehensive treatment and observation.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the accident might have resulted from a combination of mechanical failure and the wet road conditions following an earlier rainfall. However, FRSC officials emphasized that a detailed investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident.
This accident adds to the troubling history of the Otedola Bridge, which has been identified as an accident blackspot on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Transportation authorities have repeatedly implemented safety measures at this location, including improved signage and speed limiting devices.
