*As Death Toll Rises to 6
Femi Ashekun/
Six people have been confirmed dead from the accident involving a train and Lagos State Government staff bus.
The accident took place this morning between Shogunle and Ikeja axis when the staff bus veered into the rail track and was crushed by an oncoming train.
NewsmakersNG learnt that the accident occurred about 7am at the popular PWD level crossing, around Ladipo bus stop, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
The bus which was coming from Ikotun, in Alimosho Local government area, was less than five kilometres to its destination at the lagos government secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, when the accident occurred.
The driver had reportedly attempted to cross rail line in defiance of repeated warning signals from the oncoming train when the loaded bus got stuck on the rail track.
Scores of the injured passengers have been moved to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, where all routine services were put on hold in order to attend to the victims.
The open space (helipad) in front of the hospital’s surgical emergency (trauma) section was converted to a makeshift ward to cater to the flood of victims.
Hospital authorities alused a public address system to appeal to the crowd, including victims’ relations, to volunteer to donate blood.
NewsmakersNG learnt that state officials and hospital’s authorities were making arrangements to transfer some victims with less critical injuries and those that have been stabilised to other government health facilities in the state to decongest the LASUTH trauma section.
Speaking with journalists at LASUTH, the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said four of the victims were confirmed dead at the hospital.
The governor reiterated the fact that blood donors are needed for the victims and called on Lagos residents to come to their aid.
Two people had earlier been confirmed dead at the scene of the accident.
It was also gathered that the driver of the bus, identified by colleagues simply as Remi, who reportedly escaped uninjured, is being detained at a police station in Ikeja.
Some other early callers at LASUTH include, governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the state, Gboyega Rhodes-Vivour, as well as the state’s head of service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola and the commissioner for health, Prof Akin Abayomi.
More photos from LASUTH trauma section:
Earlier, the state governor had sympathised with the accident victims, saying he was “deeply saddened” by the news of the accident.
In a message on his Twitter handle, the governor wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the news of the train/bus accident . The vehicle was conveying staff of the Lagos state government, our staff who serve the state in different capacities.
“Let’s say a prayer for the families and a prayer of mercy and protection for our state.
“My thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.
“A big thank you to well meaning Lagosians who immediately joined in rescue efforts. Our first responders and emergency services are on ground and we will share more information shortly.”
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