A truck conveying
plywood fell off a bridge at Ojuelegba, Lagos, killing some passengers of
commercial buses better known as Danfo.
A
Toyota Camry was also involved in the accident which happened around 9pm on
Tuesday.
Adebayo
Kehinde, spokesman of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA),
told TheCable via a telephone call that he could not confirm the casualty
figure.
“I
can confirm to you that part of the consignment of a truck carrying
plywood specifically, fell on four vehicles, three commercial (yellow) buses
and one saloon Toyota Camry car,” he said.
“It
happened around Ojuelegba, inward Jibowu. I cannot confirm to you the actual
figures for the casualty but it is minimal. Recovery operation is ongoing and
some of the victims have been taken to the hospital. All emergency responders
are currently on ground.”
Adesina
Tiamiyu, general manager of LASEMA, later addressed reporters at the scene of
the accident. He said two people died but witnesses said there were many
corpses at the scene.
“A
flat bed truck laden with plywood and finished boards tilted on top of
Ojuelegba bridge and fell on three commercial buses and a Toyota Corolla
Camry,” Tiamiyu said.
“Unfortunately,
two people died while two other people sustained injuries but what we are doing
now is recovery.
“We
have removed the vehicles from the road and we have also taken the trucks off
the bridge.
“We
are now trying to clear the remnants of the plywood at Ojuelegba under-bridge
and the top of the bridge. That vehicle was definitely overloaded and that was
what I think caused the accident.”
He,
however, urged commercial drivers to park at designated bus-stops and to stop
parking indiscriminately.
Tiamiyu
said: “If the buses were not parked indiscriminately, the accident would not
claim lives. Commercial drivers should not turn Ojuelegba into a bus-stop.
Let’s have free drive under Ojuelegba Bridge.”
Similar
accidents had claimed lives in the last three years. In one of the accidents in
September 2015, in which three members of the same family died.
The
relations are pursuing a N10billion compensation suit at the Lagos high court.
Both the Lagos and federal governments, along with the owners of the truck, are
defendants in the case.
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