Six dead, many injured as Train collides with Lagos workers’ Bus
..As Sanwo-Olu declares three days mourning for the State
…Transportation Minister orders full investigation
…Always adhere to railway crossing rules – Lagos FRSC charges motorists
By Seun Ibiyemi
At least six persons have been confirmed dead while several others were injured after a bus conveying workers of the Lagos State government ran into a moving train at the level crossing of PWD/Sogunle, in Ikeja local government area of Lagos State on Thursday morning.
However, Nigerian NewsDirect gathered that the driver of the bus refused to adhere to the directive of level crossing keepers of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), who ordered him to stop for the coming train.
The bus belongs to the Lagos State government and was used as a staff bus for the State’s employees that work at the old secretariat, GRA in Ikeja.
A source in the NRC said, “There are level crossing keepers of NRC at that level crossing controlling train movement on the narrow guage. We also have flagmen at that place controlling the Standard guage line. We were told that they stopped the driver from passing because of the incoming train but he refused. He thought he could pass before the coming of the train. So sad.”
Confirming the incident, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the victims were all staff of the Lagos State government.
He said 85 passengers on board, 6 deaths (2 brought in dead, as announced by LASEMA, while 4 more dead at the hospital, 42 moderate injuries, 29 serious injuries, 8 mild injuries.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu thanked the LASEMA, Security agencies, Staff and Students of LASUTH for the response
He also thanked the Staff of Lagos State Government for showing up for their loved ones and also encouraging them to be hopeful.
The Governor however suspends his campaigns for 3 days, declares half day work tomorrow for civil servants and all Flags to be raised at Half Mast.
He therefore thanked his fellow contestants, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes Vivor and Azeez Olajide Adeniran for coming to the hospital to also commiserate with the victims and the State Government.
He added that the area is a triage center, which cases of this magnitude are immediately profiled and attended to, therefore quickly identifying the various levels of injuries of the patients and each will be sent to various wards & others for treatment.
However the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo has expressed deep sadness over the train accident which occurred in the early hours of today, Thursday in Lagos.
The Minister has ordered an immediate and full investigation into the unfortunate incident.
The accident involved a Nigerian Railway Corporation passenger train and a Lagos State Government staff bus that was conveying workers to their offices in the Shogunle area of Lagos State.
The Minister sympathised with the victims of the unfortunate incident and prayed for the repose of the souls of those that died and quick recovery for the ones injured.
“We are saddened by the news of the accident which occurred this morning involving a train operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation and a Lagos State staff bus, conveying workers to their offices in the early hours of today in Shogunle, Lagos.
“We pray for those who have lost their lives that the Almighty God should grant them eternal rest and we pray for a speedy recovery to the injured,” he said.
The Minister also commiserated with the families of the victims as well as the Government and people of Lagos state over the incident.
He appreciated the Lagos State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and members of the public for their cooperation in helping to clear the site of the incident and ensuring that the injured got immediate treatment.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Railway Police Command has effectively taken over the investigation into the incident as a result of the directive of the Honourable Minister of Transportation for a detailed investigation of the incident.
Always adhere to railway crossing rules – Lagos FRSC charges motorists
The Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Babatunde Farinloye, has visited the scene of the crash involving a moving train and the Lagos State staff bus at the PWD railway crossing along Agege Motor Road.
Farinloye said that the bus was conveying 80 passengers as at time of the crash while six adults occupants have been confirmed dead.
According to him, the remaining occupants sustained various degrees of injuries and are receiving treatment at LASUTH Ikeja.
Farinloye commiserated with the families of the dead and also wished the injured quick recovery.
He commended all first responders like the FRSC, Nigeria Police, LASEMA, LASTMA for prompt rescue of the victims and promised that the crash will be investigated.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa, addressing journalists alongside Heads of Agencies present at the crash scene, confirmed the incident and admonished motorists to always give way to train at all railway level crossings
Assessment of victims followed best practice – CMD
The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) said the triage of the train and bus accident victims in an open space followed international best practice in an emergency situation.
The Chief Medical Director, LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo said this in an interview on Thursday in Lagos.
Triage is the preliminary assessment of patients or casualties in order to determine the urgency of their needs for treatment and the nature of treatment required.
Some people had criticised LASUTH for conducting triage of the victims in an open space after a video emerged on social media.
