Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway: Eleven Perish as Vehicle Plunges off Bridge

A horrific road traffic accident has claimed the lives of eleven people after their vehicle careened off the Eruku Bridge along the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway.

The Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the fatalities following the grim incident, which involved a gold-coloured Toyota bearing the registration number GGE722KJ. According to eyewitness accounts and official reports, the vehicle somersaulted multiple times before plunging off the bridge.

In a statement released by the FRSC, officials detailed the harrowing circumstances of the crash. The impact of the fall reportedly caused the vehicle’s doors to lock, trapping the occupants within the wreckage.

Of the eleven victims, all of whom died instantly at the scene, ten were identified as adult males and one as an adult female.

Rescue operatives from the Itori Unit Command were swiftly deployed to the Eruku Bridge. Supported by members of the local community, the teams worked to dismantle the wreckage to recover the bodies of the deceased. The remains have since been transported to the State Specialist Hospital morgue in Ifo.

While a full investigation is underway, preliminary findings by the FRSC have identified two primary factors suspected of contributing to the tragedy: Vehicle Overloading: The carriage of eleven passengers in a single vehicle likely compromised its stability and braking capacity. Impaired Driving: Authorities are investigating the possibility that the driver was operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other substances.

The Ogun State Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, expressed his profound condolences to the families of the victims whilst issuing a stern warning to those traversing the Lagos–Abeokuta corridor.

“Travellers on the Abeokuta–Lagos route should exercise extreme caution, especially when driving at night,” Commander Ogunjobi advised.

This latest disaster adds to a rising tally of fatal incidents on Ogun State’s major arterial roads. Safety officials have reiterated their pleas for motorists to abandon reckless habits, specifically citing speeding and the dangerous practice of overloading vehicles as the leading catalysts for such avoidable loss of life.