It was a horrible Thursday morning in Lagos State as a deadly collision claimed several lives on the 8th of February 2023 at PWD, Ikeja area of Lagos.
The Bus affected was identified as a Lagos State Government staff bus with registration number 04A- 48LA carrying staff of the Lagos state government en route work.
What Really Happened?
The train ran into the staff bus, which was conveying 85 workers of the state government to work, as it tried to cross the rail line at the PWD bus stop, and dragged it to Shogunle, where it finally halted and victims were rescued.
Casualties
Out of the casualties that survived, 42 were found to have suffered moderate injuries, the number of those with severe injury put at 29, and eight with mild injury while six have been confirmed dead.
Two died on the spot while five others, who were among the 71 that sustained varying degrees of injuries, later died at LASUTH.
Rescue Team?
The enforcement officers of LASTMA were the first emergency responders at the scene of the accident and other emergency responders, LRT at Cappa alongside LRT at C3, LRU paramedics at C3, Onipanu, Cappa, LASAMBUS officials, Nigeria Police Force, LNSC, and Nigerian Army are responders that were present at the scene of the incident.” were called to join in the rescue.
Witness Recount
According to witnesses, The impatience and stubbornness of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) driver conveying civil servants to work that morning caused the train accident at (PWD) bus stop. The driver escaped unhurt and the accident killed seven people and injured over 80 others.
The driver was said to have been warned by Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) flag officers to stay away. It was also alleged that passengers of the staff bus, had advised the driver to exercise patience since a train was advancing but he wanted to make a swift movement.
One of the survivors of the accident, simply called Titilayo, revealed that they begged the driver of the bus to wait for the train to pass, but he refused.
According to the middle-aged female staff of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, who sustained injuries on her lower limbs, “I boarded the staff bus while going to work this morning (yesterday).
“The incident happened around 7.15 am. 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.”
Recounting what he witnessed at the accident scene, Musa Hayatou, a resident of Sogunle, said: “From what I saw, so far, two people died on the spot.
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.”
Officials Remarks
Meanwhile, Lagos State Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Babatunde Farinloye, has advised the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, to install iron bars at railway level crossings, to prevent trains from running into vehicles.
The Sector Commander who visited the scene of the crash with other senior security officials and the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that the driver of the bus should be prosecuted if found guilty and his driver’s license revoked.
He said that eyewitness account has it that the accident was a result of wrongful overtaking by the bus driver as his bus got hooked on the rail line.
Reacting to the train accident at the Ikeja level crossing that claimed some lives, the Sector Commander noted that there used to be iron bars at railway crossings that were dropped when a train was in motion thereby preventing vehicles and pedestrians from using the crossing.
According to him, in addition, there is usually advanced warning at the crossings(horning) signaling that a train was passing but we no longer see such things these days.
He blamed the disappearance of these facilities on the activities of vandals, stressing that Nigeria Railway must install bars at rail crossings as well as ensure that advanced warnings are given when a train is passing to avoid future occurrences.