LASTMA rescues 18 passengers in Third Mainland bridge accident
…. Hopes of finding two passengers alive diminish- NEMA
By Innocent Raphael
Following the occurrence of an accident on the Third Mainland Bridge earlier reported by WesternPost on Wednesday, operatives from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) undertook a heroic rescue effort, saving 18 seriously injured accident victims on Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, near the Adekunle inward Adeniji Adele area.
Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, confirmed that the rescue operation was carried out by officials from Zone 1, Lagos Island.
According to LASTMA, preliminary investigations indicated that a fully loaded LT Commercial Bus (registration number FKJ 872 YA) lost control at high speed due to brake failure, narrowly avoiding a plunge into the lagoon thanks to the railings of Third Mainland Bridge.
Despite the truck driver fleeing the scene, officers from Adeniji Adele Police Station provided crucial security support during the rescue mission.
Lastma Official Ojo-Oniyun Olamide, leading the recovery operations, swiftly cleared the LT Commercial bus from the road, ensuring smooth traffic flow towards Adeniji Adele area.
Meanwhile, the Marine rescue team initiated a search and rescue mission in the lagoon to account for any potential victims.
Present at the accident scene were officials from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, and other emergency stakeholders.
In response to the incident, LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, cautioned the motoring public against speeding and emphasized the importance of regular vehicle maintenance, including brake system checks, before embarking on journeys within or outside the state.
Two feared lost in Lagoon
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on its part, has revealed that hopes were fading for the rescue of two passengers confirmed to have fallen into the Lagos lagoon after a bus accident.
Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, the Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), delivered the grim news at the scene of the accident in Lagos, speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Stating that while other victims were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, the fate of the two passengers remained uncertain.
Confirming the reports, Farinloye stated that the accident occurred on the Third Mainland Bridge by the Adeniyi Adele axis inward Lagos Island.
According to NEMA, the impact of the crash following the accident had thrown the two adults off an 18-seater bus into the Lagos lagoon.
The agency added that despite extensive search efforts involving its personnel, the Nigerian Police Marine Corps, and local divers, hopes of finding the passengers alive have diminished.
Mr. Jonathan Owoade, Zonal Coordinator of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed the tragic incident, attributing the accident to reckless speeding by the driver.
The incident serves as a stark reminder for motorists to adhere to speed limits and ensure vehicle safety measures, as cautioned by authorities.
