In an accident involving a moving train and a bus carrying employees of the Lagos State government yesterday in the Shogunle neighborhood of Ikeja, Lagos, no less than seven people have been confirmed deceased while others have been injured.
The bus driver was begged to wait for the train to pass, but he refused, according to one of the disaster survivors who went by the name Titilayo.
“I boarded the staff bus while traveling to work this morning,” a middle-aged female employee of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, who suffered injuries to her lower limbs, said (yesterday).
“The incident happened around 7.15am. When we got to the intersection at PWD in Ikeja, the driver continued driving.
“Passengers inside the bus, including myself, begged him to wait for the train to pass before crossing, but he didn’t listen.
“Midway, just before he could finish crossing the rail tracks, the accident happened. Many of us were rushed here, while five others were taken to Gbagada General Hospital.”
Musa Hayatou, a Sogunle local, described what he saw at the accident scene and stated: “From what I saw, so far, two people perished on the spot.
“Many of them were rescued from the ill fated bus, but some of them were critically injured and it will take the grace of God for them to survive. Some victims who suffered broken bones were rushed to the hospital.
“I don’t know if more people have passed on. Another victim was hit by a large stone. I don’t know whether he was still living or not before he was eventually taken away by officials of Lagos State Emergency Agency, LASEMA.
“I think the fault is from the driver, because before a train gets to a level crossing, it begins to horn from a kilometre away and, if you are a good driver, you should be aware of the loud horn alerting people.
“This is the first time an accident involving a train and a BRT bus happened here. However, we usually have accident involving BRT buses with other vehicles at the bus stop.”
The number of fatalities has risen to seven, according to reports from the hospitals where the crash victims were rushed.
Two people passed away immediately, and five more who were among the 71 people who had injuries of varied severity passed away at LASUTH.
It was discovered that the staff bus, carrying 85 state government employees to work, was struck by the train as it attempted to cross the rail line at the PWD bus stop, dragging it to Shogunle, where it finally came to a stop and the passengers were saved.
According to Babatunde, who witnessed the accident: “The keepers of Nigerian Railway Corporation at that level crossing tried to stop the driver from passing because of the incoming train, but he refused.
“I guess he thought he could pass before the train caught up with him. Unfortunately, the reverse was the case.”
