Two BRT Buses Collide, Injuring 14 People in Lagos
Fourteen individuals were left injured as a result of a collision that occurred at approximately 10 a.m. on Tuesday, within the confines of the Bus Rapid Transport corridor at Cement Bus Stop, Valley Estate, on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, heading towards Ile Zik. The incident involved two BRT buses, both of which sustained significant damage.
Eyewitnesses who shared their accounts with PUNCH Metro described the crash as a harrowing event that brought traffic to a standstill, leading to the subsequent trans-loading of passengers.
One witness, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed astonishment at the collision between the large vehicles, stating, “It was a serious accident. The two buses collided, and many of the passengers on board were injured.”
Following the incident, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, as conveyed through a post on their official Twitter account (@followlastma), reported that officers from the Lagos State Police Command had arrived at the scene to contribute to the ongoing rescue efforts.
A video clip of the collision obtained by our correspondent exhibited the extent of damage, with one of the buses having its windscreen completely shattered, emitting plumes of smoke. Bystanders converged at the crash site, offering assistance to the injured passengers.
In an interview with PUNCH Metro, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Babatunde Farinloye, attributed the accident to excessive speeding on the part of the drivers. He revealed that a total of 45 individuals were on board the two buses at the time of the incident, with 14 of them sustaining injuries. Thankfully, no fatalities were reported. The injured individuals were promptly transported to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
Commander Farinloye stressed the importance of avoiding excessive speeding to avert such accidents on the road, emphasizing the need for responsible driving. Subsequently, the affected vehicles were towed away by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency.