No fewer than 14 commuters escaped death in an accident that involved a commercial bus and a private car along the Third Mainland Bridge on Thursday.
PUNCH Metro learnt from a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos StateTraffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, that the accident occurred at the Iyana-Oworonshoki area of the bridge when the commercial bus rammed into the private car.
Taofiq blamed the cause of the accident on excessive speeding by the commercial driver which led to a loss of control and the eventual collision.
He said, “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to public safety by swiftly rescuing 14 accident victims following a devastating road crash at Ilaje, inward Iyana-Oworonshoki, along the Third Mainland Bridge.
“The incident involving a Mazda commercial bus (XN 997 KTU) was triggered by reckless speeding, resulting in the driver losing control and forcefully colliding with a moving Toyota Yaris (11150 DLA). The impact led to multiple casualties, necessitating an immediate emergency response.
“LASTMA officers, in collaboration with the Lagos State Ambulance Service, acted with commendable urgency, extricating 14 individuals, including the commercial bus driver, from the wreckage.”
He added that the victims who sustained some injuries were rescued at the Gbagada General Hospital by the Lagos ambulance team.
Reacting to the incident, the LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, extended sympathies to the injured victims while stressing the need for speed limit compliance among drivers.
“Upon successful evacuation, the rescued victims were promptly handed over to LASAMBUS personnel, who swiftly transported them to Gbagada General Hospital for immediate medical attention.
“General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, underscored the pressing need for both commercial and private motorists to comply with officially sanctioned speed limits to avert needless road fatalities.
“He extended his deepest sympathies to the injured and wished them a swift and complete recovery,” Taofiq concluded.
