A truck loaded with bricks overturned on the RNIE 2 road at Hlagba-Zakpo, in the Massi arrondissement of Zogbodomey, on 18 October 2026. The accident occurred at approximately 16:00. Authorities confirmed a provisional death toll of one person, while four others sustained injuries. One of the injured individuals remains in serious condition following the incident. The official provisional death toll is one person, with four others injured, one of whom is in serious condition.
Traffic Disruption and Recovery
The accident blocked traffic in both directions on the RNIE 2 road for four hours. This obstruction prevented vehicles from passing through the Hlagba-Zakpo area of the Massi arrondissement in Zogbodomey while emergency responders attended to the scene. The accident blocked traffic in both directions for four hours.
Authorities restored traffic flow at approximately 20:00 on 18 October 2026. Recovery teams utilized a crane to lift and remove the overturned truck from the roadway, clearing the route for commuters. Traffic was restored at approximately 20:00 after a crane was used to clear the vehicle. The removal of the heavy transport vehicle required specialized equipment to ensure the safety of the surrounding area and to prevent further damage to the infrastructure of the RNIE 2 road. During the recovery period, local authorities managed the perimeter to facilitate the work of the recovery teams and to maintain order near the site of the crash at Hlagba-Zakpo.
Official Investigation Now Underway
Police Républicaine has opened an investigation to determine the causes and responsibilities of the accident. The Police Républicaine has opened an investigation to determine the causes and responsibilities of the accident. Officers attached to the local jurisdiction began collecting evidence at the scene in the Massi arrondissement of Zogbodomey shortly after the site was cleared of wreckage.
Investigators are currently examining the circumstances that led the truck loaded with bricks to overturn on the RNIE 2 road. Officials intend to verify mechanical conditions of the vehicle and assess potential factors such as driver fatigue or road conditions at Hlagba-Zakpo. The investigative process involves a thorough review of the physical evidence left at the site, as well as the documentation related to the transport of the bricks.
Police Républicaine personnel are interviewing witnesses who were present in the area at approximately 16:00 on 18 October 2026. These interviews are designed to establish a clear sequence of events leading up to the moment the truck overturned. Findings from this inquiry will be submitted to the relevant judicial authorities in Benin once the review is finalized. The department has not provided an expected timeline for the conclusion of this process. As part of the ongoing inquiry, the Police Républicaine continues to maintain a presence in the Massi arrondissement to ensure all necessary procedural steps are followed in accordance with the regulations governing traffic accidents in Benin. The investigation remains the primary focus for the local department as they seek to provide clarity regarding the events of 18 October 2026.
