Dare Babalola
A tragic accident at New Castle Bus Stop along the Oworonsoki-Apapa Expressway in Gbagada, Lagos, has claimed the life of a female passenger and left six others severely injured.
This is according to a statement by Adebayo Taofiq, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), on Sunday.
Taofiq noted that the accident prompted swift action from officials of the agency to restore traffic flow and manage emergency response efforts over the weekend.
Narrating what happened, the spokesperson said a Volkswagen commercial bus veered off course and collided with a roadside culvert, ejecting a female passenger onto the expressway and leaving six others seriously injured with multiple fractures.
He noted that an articulated trailer approaching the scene was unable to stop in time and ran over the passenger, resulting in her immediate death.
The statement revealed that operatives of the agency monitoring vehicular movements around the Gbagada axis responded with exceptional promptitude and professional dexterity by swiftly activating a comprehensive emergency traffic management protocol around the accident corridor.
To prevent further risk to other motorists and mitigate the likelihood of a secondary collision, LASTMA officials temporarily closed the expressway, facilitating the safe removal of the deceased, the six injured passengers, and the wreckage of the Volkswagen commercial bus involved in the fatal accident.
The driver of the trailer reportedly fled the scene without stopping.
Security men from the Pedro Police Division promptly arrived at the scene to provide vital security reinforcement for traffic management officials and emergency responders while maintaining orderliness around the accident vicinity.
In furtherance of coordinated emergency rescue operations, officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) swiftly evacuated the six seriously injured victims including the driver who reportedly sustained a fractured leg and conveyed them to a nearby medical facility for immediate treatment.
Similarly, personnel of the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) evacuated the remains of the deceased female passenger from the accident scene.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki conveyed his profound condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased passenger, praying that Almighty God grants them the fortitude to bear the painful and irreparable loss.
He also extended heartfelt wishes for the swift and full recovery of the six injured passengers currently receiving medical attention.
The General Manager further reaffirmed the Authority’s unwavering commitment to sustained on-going public enlightenment campaigns aimed at promoting road safety consciousness across the State.
He emphasised the imperative responsibility of vehicle owners and commercial transport operators to ensure that their vehicles remain in optimal mechanical condition particularly the braking system before embarking on any journey within or outside Lagos State.
According to him, “strict adherence to routine vehicle maintenance remains an indispensable safeguard against preventable road traffic accidents and a critical measure for the preservation of human lives on our highways.”
