Lagos mob burns BRT bus as driver dies in crash

An unidentified commercial bus driver died on Wednesday in an accident involving his bus and a Bus Rapid Transit vehicle in Ogudu, along the Oworonshoki Expressway, in Lagos.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the commercial bus was coming from Lagos Island and heading to the Ojodu Berger area of the state when the accident occurred.

According to eyewitnesses, the commercial bus was at top speed when it lost control along the Ifako Bridge and collided with the BRT.

In the process, the bus was said to have somersaulted twice while the driver died on the spot.
The incident which occurred around 8am also drew the anger of hoodlums who vandalised the BRT bus and set it ablaze.

According to a statement by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, seven passengers were injured in the crash.

He said, “While other emergency responders including Traffic Police Officers supported officials of LASTMA at the accident scene, on hearing of the death of the commercial driver whose body was lying beside the upturned commercial bus, hoodlums in the area set ablaze the bus belonging to the Lagos State Bus Service Limited.
“The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Bolaji Oreagba, however, warned members of the public particularly street urchins not to take laws into their hands at any accident scene but to allow appropriate authorities to do the needful.”

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services also confirmed the incident in a statement by its Director, Margaret Adeseye.
Also, two persons lost their lives and five others sustained injuries in a road accident that occurred in Anambra State on Tuesday.

The crash reportedly occurred at Tempo, about 300 metres from Odumodu Junction, along the Nteje-Onitsha Expressway.

The lone crash involved a commercial Toyota Sienna with number plate LND502YE belonging to Young Shall Grow Motors.

Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was allegedly on top speed, lost control of the vehicle, somersaulted after hitting a pedestrian and crashed.

It was gathered that seven persons were involved in the crash.
It was further learnt that one person in the vehicle and one pedestrian, a female who was crossing the road died while four male adults and one female adult sustained varying degrees of injury.

Confirming the accident on Wednesday, the acting Sector Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps, Anambra State Command, Margaret Onabe, attributed the cause of the crash to speeding.

Onabe said FRSC first responders at Nteje rushed the injured victims to a hospital in Umunya where the victims were confirmed dead.

“The Sector Commander, Anambra State, Corps Commander Adeoye Irelewuyi, commiserated with the families of the dead victims and sent his prayers to the injured persons,” she said.


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