The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed a major accident involving multiple trucks and a container-laden trailer on Kara Bridge, inward Mowe, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

In a statement released on its official X handle on Thursday, the agency said the crash triggered a massive fire outbreak and caused severe traffic congestion on the busy route.

According to LASTMA, the incident involved a truck and a container-laden trailer that caught fire, another truck that spilled cartons of biscuits across the road, and a separate container truck that rammed into the bridge barrier, sending its container plunging into the river below.

The agency reported that eight people lost their lives in the crash, while emergency responders were on the scene to recover the vehicles and clear the wreckage.

The accident, which occurred on Wednesday night, also involved a fuel tanker, with one of the victims said to have been burnt beyond recognition. The collision resulted in a total shutdown of traffic, leaving commuters stranded for hours.

Eyewitnesses recounted that one of the trucks veered off the road, crashing into the bridge’s barricade. The impact tore off the truck’s head, which plunged into the river.

LASTMA said the crash created a heavy traffic backlog extending from Kara Bridge to Ogunnusi Road. The agency urged motorists to remain patient and use alternative routes, noting that recovery efforts were ongoing.

“A high-capacity tow truck and SEMA ambulance are already on site, and a crane is expected soon to assist with the removal of burnt and damaged vehicles,” the statement read.