Tragedy as container falls on commercial bus off bridge, kills 9 in Lagos

Tragedy struck on Sunday when an articulated vehicle conveying a 20ft container lost control and fell on a commercial bus off the bridge at Ojuelegba, Surulere, Lagos State, killing nine passengers instantly.

The truck had fallen off the bridge and descended on the commercial bus picking up passengers at the Ojuelegba bus stop. The accident caused heavy traffic hold up along the corridor extending to Costain, Iponri, Alaka.

Operatives of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) were said to have arrives the scene urgently and commenced rescue operation to save the passengers. The LASEMA officials were said to have cut off the top of the bus to rescue a woman, who was taken to a trauma centre.

The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi  Oke-Osanyintolu, acknowledging the accident on Sunday, was gathered to have disclosed that the nine persons rescued include four adult males, three female adults, a girl child and a boy child.

Also, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) in a statement, acknowledged the accident, assuring that efforts were being made to rescue the victims.

The LASTMA statement read: “A container laden truck has fallen on a bus at Ojuelegba, inwards Fadeyi. The effort is currently being made towards rescue and evacuation.

“Recovery of the fallen container is still ongoing, though it has been taken off on top of the minibus but is yet to be completely removed from the location, traffic is still on hold, and we have a backlog of traffic presently at Alaka.

“Kindly exercise patience or find an alternative if you are not trapped in the traffic.”