The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, told The PUNCH that the bus was fully loaded with members of staff of the state government, adding that the driver wasn’t patient enough.
He said, “One cannot easily calculate the number of staff members in the bus; it is the same as BRT, some were standing because it is a fully-loaded bus. The driver was supposed to have waited for the train because he still had time. It wasn’t 8 am yet, so why the rush?
“Two people have died and the train dragged the bus to an extent while some people were also fast to have jumped out of the bus while some were trapped. We can say 15 rescued for now. We can’t give the exact number but two people have died.”
Taofiq had earlier confirmed the accident in a statement, saying, “A Lagos State Government staff bus with registration no 04A- 48LA was on Thursday morning crushed by a moving train at the PWD, Ikeja area of Lagos.
“The accident recorded many casualties as the staff bus was fully loaded with govt staff going to the office this morning.”
An eyewitness who also came for treatment at the Optical section of LASUTH but did not want her name mentioned described the scene as “pathetic.”
“I got to LASUTH at 8 am for my eye check-up and glasses. I was told the train hit the big bus at PWD while trying to cross the road into Ikeja. You need to see the crowd at LASUTH and the injured people all soaked in blood. They were being brought in with this “pure water” truck. I couldn’t stay to watch because the scene was bloody and heartbreaking. They’re still bringing more people,” she narrated.
Also, the Chief Medical Director, LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, told our correspondent, “We are resuscitating (the victims), please.”
