Eight injured as bus crashes into median in Lagos

At least eight people sustained varying degrees of injuries after a commercial bus, popularly known as a Molue, crashed into the road median at the Ahmadiya axis of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on Friday.

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Taofiq explained that the accident occurred when the bus driver veered off the road in an attempt to avoid colliding with pedestrians standing at the bus stop.

He added that the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to crash into the median and overturn, leading to injuries among the passengers and the driver.

Taofiq stated, “The accident was triggered when the vehicle, registered as KTU 801 XM, lost control due to excessive speed, reportedly caused by driver impatience.

“In an attempt to avoid colliding with another LT commercial bus and pedestrians waiting at the roadside, the driver veered sharply, resulting in the bus crashing into the expressway median and overturning.

“Eight individuals, including five men and three women, sustained varying degrees of injuries. Among the injured was the bus driver, who suffered a fractured left arm.”

“The injured victims were taken to Ile-Epo General Hospital thanks to the swift response of LASTMA personnel and officials from the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).

“LASTMA officers promptly arrived at the scene, executing a coordinated and efficient rescue operation.

“All victims were immediately handed over to LASAMBUS medical personnel and transported to the General Hospital at Ile-Epo for urgent medical attention,” Taofiq added.

Reacting to the incident, the LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, through Taofiq, sympathised with the injured and urged motorists to prioritise safety at all times.

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“He emphasised the paramount importance of adhering strictly to traffic regulations, particularly compliance with speed limits as prescribed by the Lagos State Government.

“Mr Bakare-Oki also implored both commercial and private vehicle operators to prioritise regular vehicle maintenance, especially of critical systems such as brakes, to prevent avoidable accidents,” Taofiq noted.