CITIZENS COMPASS—Emergency responders on Tuesday, worked hard to rescue two people who were trapped when an articulated truck collided with a Yellow bus at New Garage by Odo Iya-Alaro area of Ojota, Lagos State.
The incident occurred at about 3a.m.
The victims, an adult male and female were the sole occupants of the bus when the accident occurred but were rescued by emergency responders.
According to eye witnesses’ accounts, the Volkswagen commercial bus was laden with vegetables when the collision occurred occurred with the articulated truck.
The incident was said to have compounded the existing gridlock in the axis as a result of the ongoing construction of the Odo-Iya-Alaro Bridge.
Confirming the accident, the General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said he led his team and other emergency responders in a swift response to the scene of the early morning accident.
Bakare, while giving an update of the Scene through the spokesperson of the Agency, Adebayo Taofik, confirmed further that both victims were rescued.
“The accident was particularly alarming due to ongoing rehabilitation work on the Odo Iya-Alaro bridge,” said Mr. Bakare-Oki.
“The rescued victims were immediately transported to the hospital by the Lagos State Ambulance Service.
“In a related incident, another loaded tanker also collided with a barrier at the same location very close to the initial accident scene, but fortunately, no casualties were recorded.
“All vehicles involved in the accidents were promptly cleared with the assistance of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit (LRU).
“Emergency responders at the scene included personnel from LASTMA, LASEMA, the Police, and passersby.
“Mr. Bakare-Oki extended his sympathies to the rescued victims and emphasized the importance of safety, urging all motorists, including commercial bus drivers, to avoid speeding during their journeys within or outside Lagos.”
In his updates, spokesperson, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nosa Okunbor, said the Agency responded to distress calls through its 767/112 Toll-Free Emergency lines at about 0443hrs, “the Agency activated it’s Tiger Response Team from the Command and Control Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
“Upon arrival of the Tiger Team at the incident scene at 0505hrs, it was observed that a commercial vehicle (yellow bus), registration number APP 209XZ had collided with an articulated truck, registration number T4845LA, laden with a 40ft container and became stuck, and in the process trapped two victims inside the bus.
“Further investigations conducted at the incident scene revealed that the accident occurred when the commercial vehicle (yellow bus), while on high speed rammed into the slow moving articulated truck that was in a traffic gridlock, from behind, thereafter obstructing vehicular activities in that axis of the state.
“No casualties were recorded at the incident scene. However, two adults (male and female) sustained various degrees of injuries due to the accident.
“Incident scene was cordoned-off as part of Safety Measures activated to ensure safety of responders at the scene while the operation lasted.
“LRT coordinated the Recovery Operation and in the process, activated Road Traffic Control Measures in collaboration with LASTMA to manage the traffic situation, and forestall any secondary incidents during the recovery operation.
‘Agency sophisticated heavy duty equipment-Charlie (giant crane), was deployed to recover the accident truck with it’s cargo and the commercial vehicle off the road to ensure quick resumption of vehicular movement in the axis.
“Frontal parts of the commercial vehicle was heavily impacted by the crash, before getting stuck, and trapping the victims in the process, afterwards.
“No parts of the articulated truck was impacted at the rear, nor was it’s cargo affected in anyway by impact of the incident.
“The adult male and female victims, who were the sole occupants of the bus have been rescued alive.
“The rescued victims were administered immediate medical care by the Agency’s Pre-Hospital Care Team in conjunction with LASAMBUS at the scene before being transported to the Accident and Emergency Centre at 7-Up (old Toll Gate).
“The two victims rescued at the incident scene are currently receiving further medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Centre at 7-Up (old Toll Gate).
“The accident vehicles (articulated truck and commercial vehicle) have been recovered to a layby and handed over to Police Officers from Opebi Police Station at the incident scene.
“Road has been re-opened for vehicular activities before rush-hour traffic.
“In attendance were LASEMA Response Team, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Nigerian Police Force and LASTMA.”
