2 die in Lagos auto crash

By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

APAPA—Two persons were feared dead, yesterday, when a commercial bus, commonly called Danfo, collided with a fast-moving trailer at the Berger Yard area of Mile 2 on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, leaving several commuters severely injured.

The danfo bus, with number-plate YB 765 EPE, was driving against traffic when the accident occurred.

 

 

 

The impact of the collision forced the bus to turn 180 degrees, while the trailer sped off after the accident.
Although the front of the commercial bus was seriously affected, the driver and conductor sustained minor injuries.

A victim, who simply gave his name as Okechukwu, was thankful to God, as he watched some of the commuters, lay lifeless while many had their legs smashed, a result of the impact of the accident, which happened at 4:20pm.

Narrating what happened, Okechukwu said: “I was supposed to sit in the front seat, but the woman there said I was smelling because I just came out from Westminster. I then entered the back of the bus that was going to Oshodi and the driver drove against traffic. As the bus moved, the next thing I heard was ‘gbam.’ A fast-moving trailer, which was on its right lane, hit us and the force turned the bus round to face where we were coming from.”

Another victim, Lola, seen on the ground with her left knee separated from other parts of her body, called on passers-by for help. Though she could not explain what really happened, she recalled that she was in the bus before the accident.

Another victim, who was identified as Mrs Orungbeja, said she was returning home and was in the bus when the driver drove against traffic, facing Oshodi. She noted that the driver was driving into the expressway, before the trailer collided with it and made it to face Apapa.

The driver of the bus, who declined to give his name, claimed that he did not drive against traffic. But when Okechukwu, challenged him to stop telling lies, since he was also inside the bus, the driver walked away into the crowd of on-lookers.

A woman was carried away on a bike, begging for help from passers-by with her leg torn. A kind- spirited Okada rider carried her to a nearby hospital for quick attention.