The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA) have blamed the BRT bus driver for the train accident in Lagos on Thursday, March 9.
Two bodies of civil servants have been recovered at the scene of the accident. Several other persons injured had been evacuated for proper medical care.
The state government staff bus was trying to cross the PWD/Sogunle rail crossing while the train, on the rail, was coming into Lagos from Abeokuta when the incident occurred.
The incident occurred at about 7a.m. on Thursday at PWD Bus Stop, Off Old Works Road, Ikeja.
Lagos Territorial Coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) flag officers tried to stop the driver of the bus from crossing before the accident.
Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, also attributed the train accident to reckless driving by the bus driver.
Oke-Osanyintolu said that the driver was trying to beat the train traffic signal before the moving train rammed into the BRT bus.
He said: “Investigation gathered revealed that the immediate cause of the incident was due to reckless driving on the part of the BRT bus driver while trying to beat the train traffic signal before the moving train rammed into the BRT bus.
“Unfortunately, two adults were confirmed dead and several people seriously injured.
“The injured victims have been administered first aid treatment by the agency’s medical team (paramedics) and LASAMBUS officials, well stabilized and being transported to trauma centre at LASUTH Ikeja for further treatment.”
Also, the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Fidet Okhiria, on Thursday gave an account of the brief he got on the accident.
Okhiria said: “According to the information I gathered at the scene of the incident, they said many cars stopped when they got to the level crossing while the Lagos State Staff Bus driver continued moving, which I don’t know why.
“Maybe the driver thought he could pass before the train got nearer to him. He could not pass, then the train crushed the bus; that is what we gathered.
“The train was coming from Ijoko to Iddo.”
He urged Lagos drivers to be more careful when passing through the level crossing, to avoid train accidents.
The managing director appealed to motorists to consider the level crossing at all times.
Okhiria said that when motorists get to the level crossing, they should not ignore the point where they should stop.