By Ejire Folakunmi
A violent truck crash at the Molete Underbridge in Ibadan left at least three people injured and several vehicles destroyed on Saturday morning, marking the second major heavy-vehicle accident in the city within just 24 hours.
The incident occurred around 10:00 a.m. when a container truck reportedly suffered a total brake failure while navigating the busy underbridge area.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as the truck plowed through traffic, crushing a tricycle and over ten motorcycles (okadas) before coming to a halt.
While no fatalities have been confirmed, the three injured victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.
To prevent a “mob action” from angry residents and commercial cyclists, the police moved swiftly to take the truck driver into custody.
The Molete crash has triggered an immediate outcry over road safety in Oyo State, coming less than a day after a fatal tanker accident at Oke-Ado that claimed the life of a tricycle driver.
The frequency of these incidents, two major truck-related crashes in under 48 hours, suggests a mechanical and regulatory crisis regarding the “roadworthiness” of heavy-duty vehicles entering Ibadan’s core commercial zones.
Logistically, the Molete Underbridge is a critical transit artery. The accident caused a massive gridlock, forcing the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to reroute all traffic to the opposite lane.
This “double-loading” of a single lane in a high-density area like Molete creates a mechanical strain on the surrounding road network and increases the risk of secondary collisions.
Public sentiment, led by local observers, is now shifting toward a demand for stricter enforcement of the “Wholesale Vehicle Inspection” protocols and a possible review of the hours during which heavy-duty trucks are permitted to navigate the city’s major bypasses and underbridges.
