No fewer than two passengers were reported to have drown after they fell into the lagoon from a commercial bus on third mainland bridge in Lagos State.
As gathered, the driver of the 20-seater bus with number plate FKJ 872 YA was trying to avert plunging the vehicle into lagoon after it suffered brake failure when the passengers were said to have fell off the ill-fated bus into the lagoon.
The tragedy which occurred on Wednesday was confirmed by the Southwest Coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, who disclosed that the Marine rescue team have commenced search and rescue operations.
Farinloye stated that one of the two passengers that sustained high degrees of injuries has been placed on admission at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island Local Government for medical care.
The NEMA official added that the other passenger has decided to go to his company’s hospital where he believes better medical care would be provided.
Aside from these two passengers, he said that other occupants of the ill-fated bus that sustained minor injuries have decided also approach their private hospitals for desired care.
Earlier, the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, who attributed the auto crash to brake failure, disclosed that the driver has absconded to avoid questioning.
Adebayo explained that the commercial bus was enroute Lagos Island when the accident occurred around Adeniji Adele end of the Third Mainland Bridge.
In a statement released after the accident, the LASTMA spokesperson disclosed that the bus experienced brake failure and was about to fell inside lagoon when it was stopped by tha railing on the bridge.
According to the statement, “Preliminary investigations revealed that a 20 fully loaded LT Commercial Bus (FKJ 872 YA) while on a high speed lost control as a result of a brake failure and was about to fell inside lagoon before it was stopped by tha rail of 3rd Mainland Bridge.
“While the truck driver ran away after the accident, Police men from Adeniji Adele Police Station provided security backup during the rescue of 18 seriously injured passengers by Lastma Officials.
“LASTMA Ojo-Oniyun Olamide (One Alpha, Zone 1 Lagos Island) who led the recovery operations confirmed that his team immediately evacuated the LT Commercial bus off the road for an unhindered free vehicular movement inward Adeniji Adele area of Lagos Island.
“Meanwhile, the Marine rescue team already inside lagoon on search and rescue mission to see if any of those passengers fell inside the lagoon.
“Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services and other emergency stakeholders on ground at the accident scene.
“The General Manager of LASTMA Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki however warned motoring public to stop over speeding and ensure their vehicles are properly checked including the braking system before embarking on any journey within or outside the State”.
