Wednesday, 21 June 2017

Driver dies, another in coma after crashes


A driver was killed yesterday and 10 others were injured in two accidents on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

Another driver is said to be in coma following the crashes which occurred between 4am and 5am at Ibalex Bus Stop, Ilasamaja.

In the first accident, four persons were injured when a gravel-laden truck hit a trailer carrying oil from the rear.

The trailer was marked KY153YTK; there were no numbers on the truck.

The truck driver and motor-boys were said to have been trapped inside the vehicle for over 30 minutes before they were rescued.

Eyewitnesses said policemen mobilised rescuers to get the injured to hospital.

“The policemen were at the forefront in the rescue efforts. They later evacuated the trapped truck driver and motorboy before the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) rushed them to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja,” an eyewitness said.

Another eyewitness said the truck driver was in coma at the time he was rushed to the hospital.

He said the second accident, which happened at the same spot, was like a scene from a movie.

“A Volkswagen commercial bus stopped to carry passengers and a truck was coming on speed. Everybody including the policemen were signalling to the truck driver from afar to reduce the speed until he rammed into the bus. It was as if the driver was drunk. Despite several C-Caution signs displayed on the road, it hit the bus, killing the bus driver on the spot and injuring many others. In all, no fewer than 10 persons were injured. We called LASAMBUS officials to assist in taking the injured to the hospital,” the eyewitness said.

The Nation learnt that some Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and Fire Service officials later visited the scene.

The damaged trailer and the trucks were still at the scene at press time. The bus has been towed to a nearby police station.

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