A tragedy occurred on the newly-rehabilitated Third Mainland Bridge on Wednesday, when a fully-loaded 20-seater commercial bus hit the railings, sending two passengers into the Lagoon.

This occurred on a day Nigeria’s Muslim faithful joined the rest of the world in celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Eid-el-Fitri.

According to an eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Akinola Adeniyi, the tragedy occured at around 11.30 am, when the commercial bus with passengers, enroute Iyana-Oworo to Island, suddenly hit the railing guiding the bridge.

Adeniyi, attributed the cause of the accident to excessive speeding on the part of the driver of the ill-fated vehicle.

Rescue team, including men of the Lagos State Emergency Management LASEMA, the Police, among others raced to the scene for rescue mission.

The incident had led to traffic gridlock on the Third Mainland Bridge, inward the Island.

Director, Public Affairs of Lagos State Traffic Management Authourity, LASTMA, Taofik Adebayo, confirmed the incident saying LASTMA men, in collaboration with other rescue team, particularly, Marine Police, are currently carrying out rescue mission.

According to Adebayo, the seriously injured and rescued 18 passengers were immediately taken to hospital for treatment.

According to reports, preliminary investigations revealed that a 20 full loaded LT Commercial Bus, with registration FKJ 872 YA) while on a high speed lost control as a result of a brake failure and was about to fell inside lagoon before it was stopped by tha rail of 3rd Mainland Bridge.


Adebayo added that while the truck driver ran away after the accident, Police men from Adeniji Adele Police Station provided security backup during the rescue of 18 seriously injured passengers by LASTMA.officials.

One LASTMA Alpha, Zone 1 Lagos Island, Ojo-Oniyun Olamide, who led the recovery operations confirmed that his team immediately evacuated the LT Commercial bus off the road for an unhindered free vehicular movement inward Adeniji Adele area of Lagos Island.

“Meanwhile, the Marine rescue team already inside lagoon on search and rescue mission to see if any of those passengers fell inside the lagoon could be rescued.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki however, warned mortoring public to stop over speeding and ensure their vehicles are properly checked including the braking system before embarking on any journey within or outside the State.

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Wahala for who no sabi swim.

The 80 km speed on that bridge should be strictly monitored and violaters punished, otherwise the government should consider installation of speed breakers on the bridge to save lives!

First sacrifice done and dusted after the renovations 😕may God have mercy on us .

I'm trying to envision how this happened, did they get flung out of the bus into the lagoon like they're pieces of paper?

I drove on the bridge just after completion. It is so smooth and tempting. Something keeps telling you to keep pumping that gas pedal and go even faster, and no matter how fast you go, there is this crazy guy driving a Benz that will zoom off right beside you, making you think you are moving like a snail.

And moving so fast in Nigeria is not like in other advanced countries where other drivers are sane. Here people don't know when to stay on their lane and when to over take. Everyone drives anyhow.

I had to give my self brain and stayed on 120.

Omo! Make go God dey protect us oo. I pray the passengers get rescued alive and speedy recovery to those injured🙏🙏

Nigerians must always abuse any small opportunity... dem see smooth road now na to over speeding remain.. I don't juz understand the original problems of Nigerians. Smh see road wey dem juz renovate say make Lagos sef join other rest of the world... dem don start to dey damage the road again

Hei!!!

These drivers should control themselves and drive easy on that smooth bridge O!

.

In a saner clime, news like this happens once a while and will call for a national mourning.

But in Nigeria, it have become everyday news.

coputa:
Vanguard News © 2024 Vanguard Media Limited, Nigeria

Yes, WE SAID IT!

Efuaye:
The 80 km speed on that bridge should be strictly monitored and violaters punished, otherwise the government should consider installation of speed breakers on the bridge to save lives!

The problem isn't the speed limit, most of these commercial buses are not even road worthy to speed up to 30km/h..

Unworthy buses and cars should be off the highway.

Ds could be caused by our inpatient from the driver or hard drug

APC go add speed bump to that bridge

I said this.
I said people will start running like mad dogs on this bridge

jetguy:
First sacrifice done and dusted after the renovations 😕may God have mercy on us .

So much superstition, thos is why ritual killings is still very rampant

So unfortunate

Efuaye:
The 80 km speed on that bridge should be strictly monitored and violaters punished, otherwise the government should consider installation of speed breakers on the bridge to save lives!

•The 80 Km Speed is too much, govt should reduce it to 60 -km and
enforce - Monitor Compliance!
Ni bo lankanju lo gan?( where are you going in haste to?
Kikikikiki!

ntyce:


The problem isn't the speed limit, most of these commercial buses are not even road worthy to speed up to 30km/h..

Unworthy buses and cars should be off the highway.

Are the Nigeria Roads worthy ?

So sad....

Once Nigerian drivers see a smooth road with little or no traffic, na to over speed.

English. Imagine the kind of error filled article a journalist posted without proofreading.

Hmm

Efuaye:
The 80 km speed on that bridge should be strictly monitored and violaters punished, otherwise the government should consider installation of speed breakers on the bridge to save lives!

This one wants to save lives... First save yourself from going to hell fire...

dominique:
I'm trying to envision how this happened, did they get flung out of the bus into the lagoon like they're pieces of paper?

No! Like tissue paper...

Over speed by the reckless driver . It's quite unfortunate.

That's so sad. Over speeding is bad. Not a healthy way of driving.

ignis:


Are the Nigeria Roads worthy ?

Fact is most accidents due to over speeding occur on roads that are very motorable.

Maintenance of the bridge was just completed so your question is off.