Passengers injured as BRT bus crashes in Lagos

Several passengers have sustained varying degrees of injury in a road accident involving a government-owned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle in Araromi, Iyaya Ipasa, near Dopemu area in Lagos State.

The BRT bus, which had departed from the Iyana Ipaja BRT Bus Terminal and was en route to Obalende, crashed around 6:35 a.m. on Friday.

Nosa Okunbor, Head of the Public Affairs Unit at the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), confirmed the incident in a statement. He explained that the driver lost control while trying to avoid hitting a pedestrian.

The victims were transported to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

According to the statement, LASEMA received distress calls at 6:35 a.m. and dispatched its Dolphin Response Team from the Igando Base. Upon arrival, the team found the BRT bus, registration number BDG 390 XR, overturned and fully loaded.

Investigations revealed that the accident occurred when the driver swerved to avoid a pedestrian, causing the bus to lose control, hit the road divider, and overturn.

The statement noted that although no lives were lost, many passengers suffered critical injuries and were taken to an unknown hospital before the Dolphin Response Team arrived. Safety measures were put in place to protect responders and other road users during the operation.

The BRT bus was eventually lifted and towed to Moshalashi Police Station near Alimosho Roundabout with the assistance of a tow truck provided by the police.