By Uche Amunike
A total of eight people have incurred severe injuries, with one person reported dead in the accident that occurred on the Third Mainland Bridge, near the Ilaje area of Lagos State on Monday.
Involved in the accident were two Mazda commercial buses with number plates LND 624 YE and EKY 804 YH.
The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Adebayo Taofiq, made this disclosure through a statement signed and released by him.
According to the statement, the two vehicles were ‘recklessly engaged in a high-speed chase from Adeniji Adele.’
The statement further read that the intervention of the LASTMA officials helped in ensuring that a total of eight passengers were quickly rescued.
It stated: ‘A tragic and fatal head-on collision involving two Mazda commercial buses (LND 624 YE / EKY 804 YH) occurred on the Third Mainland Bridge, near Ilaje, en route to Iyana-Oworonsoki, resulting in one fatality and leaving eight others grievously injured.’
‘The harrowing incident, which unfolded as both buses recklessly engaged in a high-speed chase from Adeniji Adele, serves as a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of irresponsible driving practices.’
According to Adebayo, security support was provided by the police personnel from Bariga and Alonge police stations. They also ensured order while the rescue operation lasted. He further assured that LASTMA will not relent in being committed in the drive for road safety, even as he made a plea to every motorist to constantly observe speed regulations and drive with enough caution.
His words: ‘LASTMA reiterates its unwavering commitment to ensuring road safety, and implores all motorists to strictly observe speed regulations and exercise caution while driving. The agency extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and wishes the injured swift and full recovery.’
According to Mr Adebayo, there was another accident earlier in the day on the Third Mainland Bridge, which involved a Honda CRV (AKD 743 HV. It overturned near the University of Lagos waterfront. The vehicle was headed for Iyana-Oworonsoki. Thankfully, there was no casualty, even though he stated that the cause of the auto crash was over-speeding.
He also stated that LASTMA officials swiftly came to the rescue and cleared the wreckage, thereby, preventing more obstruction to the free flow of traffic on the bridge.
Meanwhile, still on the Third Mainland Bridge, an arrest was made, of a 28-year old man, Yakubu Yusuf, Monday morning, for allegedly vandalizing aluminum railings on a bridge close to the Old School of Nursing, heading to the Third Mainland Bridge.
He was arrested by police officers from the Onikan Police Division. At about 6.42am, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Onikan got a tip-off about a group that was vandalizing the bridge’s railings and led the anti-crime patrol team of the division to the scene.
After he was arrested, the police recovered 31 long pieces of the aluminum railings. Other suspects managed to flee from the scene before the police could swoop on them.
According to the Lagos police command, an investigation is already being carried out to get the remaining suspects, even as they reassured the general public of how committed they were, to secure public infrastructure and ensuring safety always.
