Passengers Injured As Fully-loaded BRT Bus Tumbles In Lagos

Several passengers were injured in the early hours of Friday, after a BRT bus loaded to full capacity tumbled at Iyana-Ipaja in Lagos, while the driver was attempting to avoid hitting a pedestrian on the road.

In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP by the Head, Public Affairs, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Nosa Okunbor, the bus with registration number BDG 390 XR, lost control after a hawker with a wheelbarrow reportedly dashed across the BRT corridor.

According to Okunbor, the BRT bus had taken off from Iyana Ipaja Terminal and headed to Obalende when the accident occurred.

“Following distress calls to LASEMA, via the 767/112 Toll-Free Emergency lines at 0635hrs, the Agency activated it’s Dolphin Response Team from the Igando Base. Upon arrival of the Dolphin Response Team at the incident scene, the LRT discovered that a fallen BRT Bus registration number BDG 390 XR, loaded to capacity at the above mentioned location.

“Investigations revealed that the BRT Bus had taken-off from Iyana Ipaja BRT Bus Terminal and headed to Obalende before the accident occurred while the BRT Bus driver was attempting to avoid hitting a pedestrian.”

“A pedestrian hawking plantain from a wheelbarrow reportedly dashed across the BRT corridor, causing the BRT driver to swerve suddenly and in the process lost control of the bus, climbed the road divider, falling on it’s side,” he stated.

Okunbor, however, disclosed that the fallen BRT bus had been lifted upright and towed off to a nearby Police Station near Alimosho Roundabout.

“Fortunately, no lives were reported lost due to the incident, though some passengers escaped unhurt, many of the BRT bus passengers reportedly sustained critical injuries and had been taken to an unknown hospital before arrival of the Dolphin Response Team at the incident scene.

“All necessary safety measures has been activated to safeguard responders and road users during the operation. Primary responders at the incident scene are collaborating to ensure a speedy recovery of the fallen BRT bus and restoration of normalcy to the BRT corridor.

“The fallen BRT bus has been lifted upright and towed off to Moshalashi Police Station near Alimosho roundabout with the Tow Truck provided by the officials of NPF at the incident scene.

“Road has been re-opened for vehicular activities. Recovery operation concluded,” the statement added.