At least persons were confirmed dead and five others critically injured on Tuesday morning after two vehicles collided in Lagos.
The accident, which occurred around 3am at Alaro City inward Epe, involved a passenger bus carrying 23 men and a tipper conveying sand.
It was gathered that two persons escaped unhurt.
While the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) whose officials were first responders to the scene said 16 persons died in the accident, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) put the death toll at five.
According to the FRSC, the collision was as a result of impaired visibility due to reckless driving.
A statement by the FRSC’s Lagos Public Education Officer (PEOA), Olabisi Sonusi, said the five injured victims were taken to the hospital.
She said: “The vehicles involved in the crash were a white bus with registration number KTN262YJ and an articulated truck (registration number unknown).
“FRSC operatives and other emergency management agencies are on ground, ensuring prompt recovery and evacuation of all crashed vehicles.
“The Sector Commander, FRSC Lagos, Corps Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide, advised motorists to always avoid night journey because of impaired visibility at that hour.
“He also admonished the motoring public to always observe construction signage and speed limits at such zones.
“Ogungbemide is also using this medium to commiserate with the families of the deceased, while wishing the injured quick recovery.”
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said five adult males were confirmed dead on impact, adding that their bodies were handed over to their families for burial in accordance to Islamic rites.
He said: “Upon arrival of the LRT at the incident scene it was discovered that a truck conveying sand had a head on collision with a hummer commuter bus along the axis, and the two vehicles were completely burnt as a result.
“Unfortunately five adult males were confirmed dead on impact. A combined team of agency responders and FRSC have worked to hand over the remains of the deceased to their family members for immediate burial given that most of the victims are Muslim.
The vehicles have been evacuated from the road with the agency’s super metro.”
The Nation
