Many passengers injured as two BRT buses collide in Lagos

Several passengers sustained injuries in a late-night collision involving two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses at the Pleasure axis of Iyana Ipaja in Lagos State on Tuesday.

The accident occurred when a BRT bus, attempting to avoid hitting a commercial motorcyclist illegally plying the BRT corridor, collided head-on with another BRT bus travelling in the opposite direction.

According to eyewitnesses, the motorcyclist, who was carrying passengers on the restricted BRT lane, forced the BRT driver to swerve suddenly, leading to the collision. The impact of the crash caused significant injuries to many passengers on both buses.

Before the arrival of emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), all injured passengers were rushed to nearby hospitals by concerned citizens.

LASEMA’s Spokesman, Nosa Okunbor, confirmed the incident in a statement released on Wednesday.

He detailed the agency’s swift response following distress calls received through their Toll-Free Emergency lines.

“In response to distress calls to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, via the 767/112 Toll-Free Emergency lines at 23:39 hours, the Agency activated its Dolphin Response Team from the Igando Base,” Okunbor stated.

“Upon arrival of the Agency’s Response Team at the incident scene, the LRT discovered a road traffic accident involving two BRT buses, registration numbers unknown, at the aforementioned location

“Further investigations at the scene revealed that the BRT bus, headed inward Iyana Ipaja in an attempt to avoid crushing a commercial motorcyclist with passengers plying the BRT corridor illegally, collided with an oncoming BRT bus.

“While no lives were lost in the accident, Okunbor confirmed that passengers of both buses suffered varying degrees of injuries. “All injured passengers were taken to the nearest hospital before the arrival of the Agency’s Response Team,” he added.

To clear the scene and restore traffic flow, two tow trucks were deployed to remove the damaged BRT buses.

“Recovery operation concluded. Agency’s Response Team headed back to Base,” Okunbor concluded.