Narrow Escape As Scores Of People Escaped Death in Lagos State

Scores of people escaped death in Lagos State when a LAGBUS with number plate, XU 998 AAA, rammed into four stationary vehicles.

The incident was said to have occurred under the Carter Bridge at the Ebute-Ero area.

The LAGBUS was said to have been headed for Leventis, Lagos Island.

 Eyewitnesses told our correspondent on Thursday that the bus, which was filled to capacity with some passengers standing, was on top speed before suddenly skidding off the road due to brake failure. A bystander, identified as Francis, was allegedly hit in the process.

It was said that the impact threw Francis under one of the cars parked by the road. The driver of the LAGBUS eventually crashed into four stationary vehicles as he struggled to control the vehicle.

A bystander who identified himself as Momoh said, “We were standing by our car at the Carter Bridge when a LAGBUS lost control and skidded off the road.

“The driver tried to control the bus but it rammed into the pavement and hit a man who was walking along the road at the time. It seemed the man was walking towards his car that he had parked under the bridge.”

As of press time, Francis who was rushed

to the Island General Hospital, was said to be in critical condition.

It was after the bus had rammed into a Volvo 740, two Sienna LE cars and a Hyundai bus that it eventually came to a halt. The frightened passengers were said to have frantically exited the bus.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the yet-to-be identified driver of the vehicle fled the scene when he saw the extent of the damage caused by his recklessness.

To ease tensions and prevent the bus from being set ablaze, the LAGBUS was said to have been towed by the Ebute Ero Police Division.

A dealer in DMT mobile toilets, Olasunkanmi Babalola, told PUNCH Metro that two of the toilets were destroyed in the crash.

Lamenting the loss, he said, “A customer of mine was actually using one of the four toilets when the accident happened. I was lucky that that particular toilet was not involved. Each of the toilets which was destroyed goes for N95,000. This is a loss to me.”

The owner of the Volvo,who identified himself as Mr. Saka Owoyale, said he was alerted to the incident via a phone call .

He said, “I always park my car under the bridge whenever I have things to do here. I was shocked when I got a phone call that my car had been damaged in an accident. I ran down to see things for myself; it was truly damaged beyond repair.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngosi Braide, said the driver had been arrested.

She said, “The driver is currently at Ebute Ero Divison, while those injured are receiving treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.”

{Punch}