Ojuelegba crash: Passenger dies after jumping from moving bus, LASTMA averts secondary collision

Stanley Ihedigbo

Tragedy struck along the Ojuelegba axis of Surulere, Lagos, after a male passenger died following a lone accident involving a commercial Volkswagen bus.

The incident occurred at Ogunlana Junction, inward Ojuelegba, around the Fallout area of Surulere, when the commercial bus, with registration number LND 130 XR, reportedly veered violently into a median pole.

According to the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the preliminary security reports, the driver of the ill-fated bus was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and had been driving recklessly shortly before the crash.

The erratic movement of the vehicle reportedly caused motorists approaching from behind to exercise caution in an attempt to avoid colliding with the bus.

During the ensuing confusion, a male passenger reportedly attempted to escape from the uncontrolled moving vehicle by jumping out of the bus.

He sustained serious injuries after hitting the ground and subsequently died from the injuries.

Personnel of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), who were conducting routine traffic surveillance along the Ojuelegba axis, quickly mobilised to the scene after sighting the crash.

The traffic officers immediately secured the accident scene and introduced emergency traffic-management measures to prevent further danger to motorists and other road users.

LASTMA personnel also swiftly removed the damaged vehicle and the remains of the deceased passenger from the carriageway.

The agency said the prompt intervention helped avert the possibility of a secondary collision, which could have resulted in additional casualties given the location and traffic conditions.

Security personnel from the Area C Police Division, Ojuelegba, provided security cover at the scene, while officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEHMU) arrived and evacuated the remains of the deceased.

LASTMA warns motorists

Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the tragedy as another grim reminder of the dangers associated with driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless motoring and the use of mechanically defective vehicles.

Bakare-Oki urged both commercial and private motorists to conduct comprehensive mechanical checks on their vehicles before embarking on journeys.

He particularly advised motorists to pay close attention to critical safety components, including braking systems, tyres, steering mechanisms and other parts capable of affecting the safe operation of a vehicle.

The LASTMA boss also commiserated with the family of the deceased passenger, while reaffirming the agency’s commitment to rapid incident response, effective traffic management and prompt clearance of accident scenes across Lagos.

He urged members of the motoring public to report traffic incidents, road crashes, vehicle breakdowns and other obstructions promptly to LASTMA.

Motorists and other road users can contact the agency through its toll-free short code 3367.