No fewer than seven persons were killed and 12 others injured when a 40-foot container fell off a truck in the Alakija area on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway on Wednesday at about 7.30 am.
Sources learnt that the truck, with number plate KRD 526 XP, moved from its lane to another lane and rammed into a commercial bus after its brakes failed, whereby the container the truck was carrying fell, killing seven people and injuring 12 others.
Some okada riders at the bus stop were also trapped under the fallen container.
It was learnt that the minibus, with number plate EPE 972 XH, was crushed, while its passengers were trapped.The recovery operation however involved officials from LASEMA, the Lagos state fire service, the Nigeria police force, Lastma officials, FRSC, LASAMBUS who were at the scene.
A witness, Biodun Solaja identified three of the deceased as okada riders.
He identified the two of them simply as Ganiyu and Mohammed.
He said, “The problem here is that motorcycle riders and bus drivers always block a part of the road in their search for passengers. Also, the road is in a bad condition and traffic is always heavy at the bus stop.
“This morning, the truck had wanted to manoeuvre its way when the container on it fell and crushed the passengers in the bus. It also crushed some okada riders at the junction. Many people were trapped under the container.
“Three okada riders died on the spot. Others had broken legs and arms. There was confusion at the bus stop for several hours.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the deaths.
She said, “The men of the FESTAC Police Division were on the ground to help in the evacuation. As of 4pm, we had five dead bodies. The identities of the dead are unknown.”
The Public Relations Officer, LASTMA, Mahmud Hassan, said the wreckage had been evacuated from the expressway.
No comments:
Post a Comment