How 1 killed, 7 injured, as vehicles collide with train in Oshodi

By Sarah Anu-Oluwapo

IT was a very sad Monday, when one killed and seven others injured, as a commercial bus had a collision with a commuter train at PWD-Ilupeju bypass railway crossing, Oshodi, Lagos.

According to an eyewitness, “a commercial Volkswagen bus with plate number GGE 972 GE, carried six passengers, veered onto rail-line at PWD bypass railway crossing. In an attempt to  beat the commuter train coming from Ijoko, unfortunately, the bus got trapped on rail track.

When the train was passing, the train hit the bus, the bus hit another vehicle, and train dragged the commercial bus to Oshodi under bridge.

“At the front of Arena Shopping Complex in Bolade. The commercial bus hit a SUG Highlander Jeep which also got stuck on the rail track. The two victims inside the Jeep, a father, and a son were said to be driving into the shopping arena when the bus dragging by the train hit their car.”

The source further stated that the six passengers in the commercial bus narrowly escaped death, but had different degrees of injuries after the train had dragged the commercial bus more than 800 metres away from the point of collision. While one of the two occupants in the SUV died, the other one sustained severe injury and was immediately taken to the hospital. It was gathered that the deceased was surviving person’s father.

Director-General of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who led his team to rescue the situation said: “The agency received distress call at 8.12am, On arrival at the scene, it was discovered that a passenger bus with six passengers had veered onto the train tracks while crossing the railway at PWD and subsequently collided with a moving commuter train. One has since lost his life and been deposited at the morgue while the other is still undergoing treatment.

“The Agency was able to successfully extricate a total of eight passengers, six with minor injuries were provided with on-site medical care while two males including a 20-year old sustained severe injuries and were taken to LASUTH for further treatment. The other adult male subsequently lost his life

“The accident vehicles were recovered off the road with the aid of the Agency’s Light rescue equipment while traffic management measures were put in place by the emergency responders, alongside taskforce officials and Nigeria Police.”

Sanwo-Olu, Amaechi visit accident scene

Meanwhile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged members of the public, especially drivers of commuter buses to obey traffic regulations to prevent loss of life, injuries, and transport delays.

Sanwo-Olu and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, visited the scene to have on spot assessment of the situation.

The duo, who expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident, condoled with the bereaved family, and urged motorists to always exercise restraint at rail crossing to avoid unnecessary loss of lives and property.